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RonaldODowd
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A member since December 27, 2007 22:13
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Comment History
Nanos National Tracking - CP 31.5%, LP 29.1%, NDP 27.2%, GP 5.9%, BQ 5.2% (ending February 24th, 2013) (2013-03-06)
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He Isn't Even Leader Yet And He's Already Knocked The PM Off His Stride.
No wonder the Conservatives are working feverishly to package the shit in a can t...
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It Was All About Aline, Now Is It About Laureen?
Watch me pass for an idiot. Now, that Steve Paiken has weighed in, I thought I would go further and prove...
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I Guess The Farting Around And Avoiding It Strategy Hasn't Worked.
Well, what do you know, Philippe Couillard, the newly minted Quebec Liberal leader is i...
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Lawson,
Please be more careful what you post. This is clearly libel. You could be sued. You might want to consider taking it back.
Now to your point: ...
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That's fine, Lawson. You have a right to your opinion. I respect that but remember that Nik could also be sued as our host...
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Lawson,
Any network will have to back that up with solid proof -- and if they can, and that's a big if, it won't be good news for the Liberals. No questio...
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Justin, Be The Best That You Can Be.
Have we arrived at a watershed moment? The Harper government's support is now in the low thirties in voter intention ...
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Welcome To Team 31.5%!
Just in case you haven't noticed, Team Conservative is languishing in the basement. Hell, at 32%, you can't even form government. B...
Nanos National Tracking - CP 34.3%, LP 27.6%, NDP 27.1%, GP 4.7%, BQ 4.6% (ending January 31st, 2013) (2013-02-09)
Nanos-IRPP Survey - 1 of 2 say Canada on right track - down 16 points - unsure up (2013-01-02)
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What It Should Be All About.
Friday's working meeting with the Prime Minister is now history and so is the ceremonial encounter with the Governor General. I...
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Bernie,
Government always believes that it is being benevolent even when it enacts legislation that basically amounts to my way or (nothing else).
What I ...
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Bernie,
This Prime Minister like some of his predecessors, doesn't exactly like to admit it when he is on the wrong track. As a result, I seriously doubt he...
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Lex,
No doubt you will agree with me that a reserve is not a suburb. A reserve is a distinct identity that represents a nation, a people, a collective ident...
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If Nowhere Near Lincoln Can He Perhaps Be Lincolnesque?
Just had a read of Jeffrey Simpson's column in The Globe and Mail. Picture our Prime Minister along ...
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Bernie,
Your comments make me think back to the principles put forward by the Trudeau government. One of their cornerstones was based on the concept of a ju...
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Hi Lawson,
The economic power resides in the West but even with seat re-apportionment, the West has not yet reached the point where it can alone call the tu...
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A Prime Minister's Dilemma.
Now they've done it, the PMO has made it crystal clear that the Governor General will play absolutely no role in future policy d...
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HC,
If only I knew one tenth of what you know. Like you, I don't see things going anywhere from here because no one can get their act together. The sad thin...
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HC,
I tend to be somewhat naive -- when I define great prime ministers I look at their respective levels of accomplishment. Quite clearly, Canada would not ...
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HC,
Thank you. I will go even further: as you know I am a great fan of British parliamentary institutions -- and especially of cabinet. I have no time for a...
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Bernie,
I tend to take the view that parties don't win -- other parties lose. You can change leaders -- sometimes a net positive, other times not. You can f...
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Lex,
This is hardly my area of expertise but I presume you mean that the union had no intrinsic value prior to the Civil War. I would agree that further cen...
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Lex,
Disraeli said it best: "There are three kinds of falsehoods: lies, damned lies and statistics." You say tomato and I say tomato...
Point being they ma...
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Lex,
I thought God invented federal governments to "save" us from asymmetrical federalism and the eventual balkanization of nations! Or, so the story goes.
...
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Pour Chantal.
Bravo! Merci, mille fois.
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Bernie,
Thank you.
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That Queasy Feeling...
From the moment the French went in to help the Mali government, I've had nothing but a sinking feeling in my stomach. My sense of it ...
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Lex,
It's not for me to determine their level of educational funding. I don't have the expertise to do that. That's why I did not make a specific statement ...
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Lex,
I'm happy to help them if you can assure me that our help will remain limited.
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I don't know Lex. Granted it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the French but all that flashes before my eyes is a vision of W on board that carri...
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Lex,
Unlike you, I am not as charitable toward the Americans...like 911, this was yet another whopper intelligence failure on the part of the Americans. The...
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I Thought To Myself Last Night.
Ron, I wondered, how can you best describe the insurgency going on in Mali and the necessity for intervention by French and ...
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Bernie,
Incredibly, sometimes the lips say one thing and the eyes something quite different.
To wit:
Joint Task Force Two (JTF 2)
Welcome to Joint Task F...
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For Those Of You Wondering When The Real Thomas Mulcair Will Stand Up...
Well, he just did. And may God Bless him! You see folks, you have to clue in as to ...
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The Senate: Think The Patriation Reference.
The Harper government has asked the Supreme Court of Canada to render a decision on six reference questions rela...
Economic Mood Index remains stable - Small increase in perception of real estate value (Nanos Economic Indices - December 2012) (2012-12-29)
November Pocketbook Index at its lowest since 2008 - Job security down seven points in November (Nanos Economic Indices - November 2012) (2012-12-01)
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Pauline Who?
Apparently, Quebecers elected a social-democratic government in the last election. However, in an effort to remain in office for as long as pos...
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North Korea and South Korea.
The Prime Minister, as quoted in The Ottawa Citizen:
"I know all of us look forward to the day, it may seem far off, but it wi...
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Lex,
I will have to take your word on that since I have absolutely no knowledge as to the range of their missiles. I presume they are already equipped with ...
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Our Democracy At Work...
Don't plan on playing got you politics. After all, these people are human beings. But they really need on both sides of the House t...
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The Phony War Is On: The Next Federal Election Campaign Is Already Underway.
Thursday, December 6, 2012 -- marks an important day in federal politics. That'...
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At What Price Jerusalem???
This has nothing whatsoever to do with the Middle East. There comes a time in every leader's life where he or she has to make the...
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Running The Gamut From Excessively Frank To Absolutely Disingenuous.
What I wouldn't give to see a happy medium take hold in Ottawa. Whether it's one though...
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Why Harper Has It Dead Wrong. In Two Words: Eric Cantor.
Like many other people, I particularly enjoy the festive season. Puts me in a good natured and opti...
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So Many Questions In Search of Answers.
For the Governor General, His Excellency, the Rt. Hon. David Johnston:
There seems to be a disconnect as to the cro...
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Reflection Led To The Obvious Next Step.
As days turned into weeks, I've become increasingly concerned about the health of Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence...
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Are We Really Progressives...?
I just finished reading Warren Kinsella's column about the possible outcome of the next federal election which is expected in...
Nanos National Tracking - CP 33.8%, LP 29.0%, NDP 27.2%, BQ 4.9%, GP 3.7% (ending November 15th, 2012) (2012-11-22)
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Hollinm,
I've really got to hand it to you. Frankly, I don't know of any person who has more talent than you do when it comes to forcefully making your argu...
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Hollinm,
Since you were kind enough to ask: in complete agreement with paragraph one but I would add that if polls cannot reliably project voter intention s...
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Bernie,
After reading your contribution, it left me with the feeling that you are only now getting warmed up!
This government, like all its predecessors, s...
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Hollinm,
In our various conversations, you have always struck me as a fellow student of political history. So allow me to put the following to you. I doubt ...
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Bernie,
The truly sad thing about politics is that it revolves around collective punishment and hostility. You can quite literally be the best PM in a hundr...
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More Proof That Ignorance Is REALLY Bliss In Ottawa (If That Was Actually Ever In Doubt).
Éric Grenier is reporting over at ThreeHundredEight.com that a new...
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Lex,
Remember when Chrétien was prime minister and how we federalists went into collective cardiac arrest on the night of the second referendum? I would arg...
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Bernie,
Thanks for your eloquent support. I also have my concerns -- especially about Catalonia and Scotland. I hope we won't see a powder keg due to an exc...
Nanos Survey - What Canadians think of the federal civil servants (2012-11-15)
Who Canadians trust on issues - Part 1 (2012-10-22)
1 in 2 Canadians would have difficulty paying bills if paycheque late (2012-10-19)
Canadian economic mood relatively unchanged - Real estate perceptions slide (Nanos Economic Indices - October 2012) (2012-10-16)
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Lex,
Agreed. However, to some extent sellers remain unrealistic -- they are still insisting upon top dollar having an overly inflated view of the value of t...
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Can Strong Liberal Headwinds Reverse Conservative Electoral Tides???
We can argue about Liberal momentum -- even about whether it constitutes enough to actu...
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Bernie,
Thanks. It would seem to be self evident that anything nautical is far from my strong point! Onward and upward from here, I hope.
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Think November.
That's when the federal Liberal leadership race officially gets underway. Will it come in with a roar or a whimper? I don't know about you ...
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Bernie,
Yes, it will be a tug of war between populism on the left and business as usual rhetoric on the right. A Liberal quandry of the highest magnitude bu...
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Lex,
For my part, I'm reserving judgment on each of the announced candidates. As for the unannounced subject to speculation and wild rumour, well, I'll cros...
Nanos National Tracking - CP 33.3%, LP 30.1%, NDP 27.9%, BQ 4.7%, GP 2.9% (ending October 11th, 2012) (2012-10-15)
Canadians more likely to have positive view of new free trade agreements (2012-10-03)
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Hollinm,
Does this mean we can count on you to check out the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney's appearance on the Lang & O'Leary Exchange tonight?
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Hollinm,
Bernie,
Canada is a trading nation. No question about that. To prosper, we need to open market as this Prime Minister and his predecessors have don...
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Syria: Turkey Is Going To Clean Their Clock.
And about time too.
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Hollinm,
As you well know, for any international trade negotiation to be perceived as both beneficial and successful in the eyes of the Canadian public, it ...
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Hollinm,
I remember that election well...I had voted for Mulroney in 1984 and abandoned him in favour of Turner in 1988 for two reasons: I thought the FTA w...
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Hollinm,
You are a very lucky man. You get to see my humble side...since I know absolutely nothing about the CETA negotiations, I'm staying right out of thi...
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Get Thee To Chrétien's House.
I like giving free advice -- just the kind of person I am! Sooo...for those of you who happen to be leadership candidates --...
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Lex,
To quote Captain Jean-Luc Picard: [Please] "make it so."
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Lex,
Bernie,
I will meet both of you half way. Lawyers to their credit, have started to cut down on the excess verbiage and legalese when constructing contr...
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Is Justin Trudeau Our Next Party Leader???
Sometimes, inevitability takes on a life of its own -- especially if the perception is that seeming inertia is ...
Nanos/UB Tracking Study - Year 8, 1000 Americans and 1000 Canadians (2012-09-29)
Nanos National Tracking - CP 32 NDP 30 LP 25 BQ 6 GP 5 (2012-09-15)
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Hollinm,
I'll say one thing for you -- you do have a unique way of making your point! Geez, why don't we just save a little time and cancel the election i...
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Bernie,
What's taking place in our North is nothing short of a crime against humanity. All nations collectively bear that responsibility -- not just the Har...
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Hollinm,
One person's reality is another's illusion -- and vice versa.
I think Jean Charest might have something significant to contribute on that score.
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Hollinm,
Maybe some people need to get their ears checked for wax buildup!
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Hollinm,
We've been on this board long enough for you to know that name calling is not my style. (The only time I really went off the rails is when our frie...
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Lex,
I will concede partially the point on some of the previous evidence but it seems to me that climate skeptics have overplayed their hand on that one.
I...
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Hollinm,
I was thinking that traditional lifestyles i.e. First Nations and other aboriginal hunting would be at least affected and perhaps seriously damaged...
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Hollinm,
I'm not about to dispute your analysis. It is plausible but by no means a certainty.
One never knows what might happen in politics. Even the most ...
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Lawson1945,
You sure are fired up today. Basically, the PQ is acting in a somewhat petty and infantile manner -- they are permanently allergic to the displa...
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Hollinm,
I've also met him (as you know) and I would size him up thusly: the man does not have nerves of steel - far from it, but he does have a backbone of...
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Hollinm,
This Prime Minister knows instinctively that tough love is not the answer...all that does is put this province on a quicker glide path toward separ...
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Hollinm,
My words are hardly gospel but I would say there are a few plain truths that have to be taken into account:
1. We both agree that Quebec can leave...
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Hollinm,
In our previous personal political discourse, never have we disagreed more profoundly than we do on this issue. I expect that neither of us are inc...
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2. You point out how Quebec is perceived as wanting to impose her will on the rest of the country. Depends on one's perspective and ultimately one's view of ...
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3. On partition: let me be more precise. I start from the principle that the Quebec land mass is basically indivisible due to the fact that most of its resid...
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4. As regards bills which provide for bilingual appointments to the SCC, parliamentary officers and extending the application of Bill 101 to federally-charte...
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The Role Of A Canadian Prime Minister.
A Canadian Prime Minister, as our current PM has said, is Prime Minister of all Canadians -- no matter whom they vote...
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Bernie,
You do an excellent job of getting your points across. I've never had any trouble figuring out where you were going with your arguments.
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Hollinm,
I think judges necessarily have to be given more leeway because of the specialized nature of the High Court. That's why I had no objection to this ...
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Hollinm,
I assume most Canadians agree with your statement but also hope that we don't. Frankly, I will be surprised if Marois can win a referendum. It woul...
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Hollinm,
There is no question that successive Quebec governments have limited the rights of the English minority, some with their consent and some without. ...
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Hollinm,
Likewise, thank you.
I guess it comes down to not being able to be half-pregnant. Either federalism is desirable, acceptable or revolting to the v...
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Hollinm,
I respect people's right to express their view against official bilingualism but whether one likes it or not, one has to admit that without officia...
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Care For A Hot Potato Prime Minister???
(This post is dedicated to our crusading friend, Lawson1945. Hopefully we will hear from him on this.)
In one word:...
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Bernie,
It was not my intention to suggest that all provinces and territories are like the Americans -- only that some of them are much more like the Americ...
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Dummies In Quebec Politics.
Like most of you, I've seen my share of stupid -- but nothing by far comes even close to matching the guile of the Liberals and ...
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Thanks, Bernie.
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Rona Ambrose Gifts Stephen Harper With A Pickle For Christmas!
Now you know why most people don't care for premature holiday presents...Rona wasn't the only...
Canadian economic mood flat in August (Nanos Economic Indices - August 2012) (2012-08-21)
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What I Learned From Jean Charest Last Night.
More often than not, armchair quarterbacks are able to dissect exactly where and why things went off the rails....
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Lex,
Quite frankly Lex, I don't have any idea what to make of that poll. Is it rogue? Up to this point, my impression was that Pauline was perhaps slipping ...
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Quebec Quiz: What Do Pauline Marois, Flora MacDonald And Brian Topp Have In Common?
Maybe nothing. We're finally heading into the last week of the campaign....
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Lex,
I know diddly about economics (some might say the same thing about my alleged political knowledge!!!!!!!) but I'm curious. How do you see the work of F...
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Quebec Election: What A Choice...
I'm actually amazed to see people going out in droves to vote in the Quebec election. One would thing given the political ...
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Lex,
Legault says the physician-patient ratio for some doctors is woefully inadequate. Apparently, he does not take into account their hospital obligations....
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Lex,
IMHO not very long. A month or two at best because the contradictory cleavages in the CAQ will pull them apart practically from the get-go. In my view,...
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Lex,
Here's an interesting historical parallel. Remember the election of 1979 where Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals won the popular vote but Joe Clark forme...
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Lex,
It would be nice to see AE implemented by a first-world government. Now, that would be an interesting case study.
As for QE, after two rounds along wi...
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Lex,
Makes you wonder whether Charest's strategists are actually la crème de la crème. If they are, there's already a plan in the works to parachute Charest...
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Lex,
Interesting.
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Bernie,
Interesting counter-view.
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Lex,
I take your point. But history has proven that strong enforcement of sane regulation is a virtual necessity to control self-evident private excess.
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Hi Lawson1945,
Glad to see you are back! I was away myself for quite some time but I figured I should reappear just to bore my reading audience. It's nice t...
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Quebec Election Prediction: The Juggernaut That Wasn't.
I'll keep it short and sweet -- translation: which party do you hate the least?...it should be the w...
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Lawson1945,
Watching it now in French.
Think it's also on CBC News Channel.
So far PQ leading in 18, Liberals 17 and CAQ 10.
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Donald,
If you've been over to Kinsella's place recently, you may have seen that I have been waging a solitary effort to get Quebec's signature on the const...
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Don,
Apparently it's not a bullet hole according to police reports.
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Positive Proof Why God Loves Canada!
I don't intend to till the soil again but suffice it to say that our Lord is a charitable being -- having annointed Pau...
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Lex,
Do you agree with me that the fortunes of the Bloc and the PQ are on a swinging pendulum? Inevitably, they swing either toward feast or famine. If that...
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Lex,
Candidly, I don't see how the status quo, or if you prefer, a vacuum as it relates to the constitution is in Canadian federalism's longer-term best int...
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Lex,
In principle I would tend to agree -- but this is an exceptional situation, one that will likely tear a huge strip off the Quebec Liberals will each pa...
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Après Charest.
If you actually give a damn about who might just run for the Quebec Liberal leadership, a slew of names is being floated in the francophone a...
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Lex,
True. But it's one thing to take personal responsibility for the way an election campaign was conducted and a subsequent loss -- it's quite another to ...
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Lex,
Let me put this to you. Assume Quebec has signed. With that the great myth surrounding the alleged betrayal by English Canada is suddenly rectified. Po...
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Clarity Act: Why The Liberals Are At An Electoral Crossroads.
Remember when I said it was so easy in Ottawa to be a student of history and yet learn nothing...
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A Funny Thing Those Pesky Best-Before Dates!
Some get it just about right -- they spot oblivion around the corner and being proudly sentient, they react acc...
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L O U G H E E D: Statesmanship Personified.
There's a reason why some people will die as federal Progressive Conservatives. Think Robert Stanfield, Hugh Seg...
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Liberal Leadership Race: Ce n'est que partie remise, mais pour qui?
The longer this goes without Justin Trudeau formally declaring, the more I start to wond...
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Climate...and Cash!
You know what, I won't be changing any minds here on global warming, its negative effects or the detrimental consequences of man-made ac...
Proximity drives public policy priorities for Canadians (IRPP-Nanos Study) (2012-07-20)
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Bitumen Bummer?
If you want to figure out who's holding the short end of the stick relating to the Northern Gateway pipeline, cast your eyes not toward Vict...
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HC,
As usual, your expertise is mighty impressive. Thanks so much for your input!
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Lex,
My guess and it is entirely that, is that it will help Clark on the margins but will only serve to make a Liberal rout slightly less likely. It seems t...
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HC,
In Quebec City, we are supplied with Brent which arrives by tanker and is refined at Ultramar's facility in Lévis.
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HC,
I think this trajectory speaks for itself:
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/01/05/b-c-residents-support-northern-gateway-pipeline-project-poll/ (...
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October Surprise? You Betcha!
When you're running behind and economic indicators are bad to bleak, you really need to pull one large Rabbit out of the hat t...
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HC,
We may be of one mind on this but you know as well as I do that the stumbling, bumbling Mitt Romney is neck-and-neck or slightly ahead of President Oba...
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HC,
One more point: you may also agree that if Israel by itself had the aviation wear-with-all to get the job done, Netanyahu would not be repeatedly public...
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Lex,
Agreed. I take your point. What I meant of course is that Israel herself, even today, steadfastly refuses to confirm or deny the existence of a nucle...
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Lex,
In a presidential election that could conceivably be even closer than Kennedy-Nixon, both candidates need the convenient whipping boy otherwise known...
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Quebec Election: So Many Questions...
If any of you can actually figure out what the hell is going on in the Quebec election, you're better than me.
Al...
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Ryan: What In The World Is Mitt Romney Thinking?
I could ultimately turn out to be full of shit but for my money, picking Paul Ryan as your VP candidate is ...
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Mohammed Morsi: Probably Has The Most Guts On Planet Earth.
In a word, WOW! Now, that took guts -- to retire both Field Marshal Tantawi and Chief of Staff A...
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And I Thought Stephen Harper Had Learned Precious Little Since Becoming Prime Minister.
Can you say Northern Gateway? A watershed moment in my opinion -- so...
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Lex,
Two questions:
a) is it correct for me to assume that the U.S. debt and deficit numbers are far greater (in percentage terms) than what Chrétien and M...
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Bernie,
Thanks for your input.
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Lex,
Thanks very much.
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Quebec Election: Check The Bottom Of Your Cup And Find An Answer.
It may be sport to speculate endlessly about the identity of the party that will actually ...
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Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement: Is Harper Going At It Backwards???
As someone who knows practically zip about international trade law -- much less the intri...
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Lex,
Quite fascinating. (Never thought I'd say that because previously "everything Economics" used to make MEGO!!!!) But as usual, I digress.
Might I sugge...
Canadians see Asia-Pacific holding most opportunity for Canada (2012-07-19)
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Hollinm,
Is it not possible to split the difference? If we want to have more value added in connection with either Keystone or Northern Gateway, can't we ex...
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Hollinm,
I agree re: our domestic market. I also agree that if we were to introduce more value added for Canadian companies and workers that necessarily, we...
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Hollinm,
If I was PM I would be thinking how to fast track this as much as possible. IMHO there is only one contingency plan: Harper needs to get the First ...
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Hollinm,
Like many times before, I'm like a broken record on this...but I will ask the question again, what is our best negotiator doing sitting in London? ...
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Hollinm,
I would say you are painting with too broad a brush. Quite clearly there are a minority of nations that are not even close to being ready for self-...
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Hollinm,
I guess I can rule out you being a fellow Red Tory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And speaking of justice, clearly one of the components of a successf...
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Hollinm,
"I am for making the aboriginal community self sufficient. Training is good but they are probably not interested as they believe that would be adap...
Nanos Federal Tracking: CP 34 NDP 30 LP 27 GP 4 BQ 4 (2012-07-18)
Economic Mood Index hits 3 year low (July 2012) (2012-07-16)
One in two Canadians has negative impression of a politician increasing taxes (2012-06-20)
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Peter Van Loan's Closer.
If you happened to be as lucky as I was, you got to witness Peter Van Loan's wrap up in front of the press earlier today. I can hon...
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The Quebec Question: Plain, Unvarnished Advice For The Canadian Government.
These remarks may not necessarily go over big in federal Liberal circles. Too ba...
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Delacourt Tackles Liberal Leadership!
I'm a great admirer of Susan Delacourt. As far as I'm concerned, she and Craig are certainly among the best of their p...
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Bernie,
Let me respond to you in this way: you'll recall that I was and remain a strong Ignatieff supporter. You were, like many other Canadians, not too th...
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Bernie,
If more voters thought about things the way you do, Harper would have won in 2006 and that would have been it. But so many voters basically don't ca...
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Bernie,
Warren Kinsella has an interesting piece over at his place today. He seems to be convinced that Justin is the man although he acknowledges that the ...
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Lex,
Well yes, and no. Government regulation can either be good or bad at any given moment. I would argue that most of the time it's been bad or at least in...
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Remember Hillary's Ad DuringThe Primaries About The Phone Ringing In The Middle Of The Night?
That gang in the PMO really kill me. It's true the ad wasn't e...
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The Essence of Intellectual Laziness.
Think Omar Khadr, Abousfian Abdelrazik -- or even Henk Tepper. One would think that it would stand to reason that one ...
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For Bill Brathwaite.
Bill,
I don't think it would be appropriate, out of respect for the excellent work Warren does over at his place, for me to pontificat...
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There Goes Another One...
PRI has defeated the ruling PAN party in Mexico. Couple that with recent electoral results across Europe (where not a single incum...
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Lex,
I expect a very high black turnout -- less so for Latinos and even less for young people. That could really hurt Obama. Franklin Roosevelt won with hig...
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The Folly That Is Cabinet "Punditry"!
The ripple that passed for a cabinet shuffle really made me laugh. You all remember how the pundits had several people...
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Winning Leadership.
With the exception of Deborah Coyne, the pack of alleged Liberal leadership candidates have yet to be heard from. No one else seems to b...
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D-Day: Nine Mondays To Go!
Thank God Quebecers will finally be going to the polls shortly. It's long overdue to clear the air and see whether Premier Jean C...
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The Progressive Test.
It's easy to talk a good game about actually being a P-R-O-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E. But words, just don't cut it anymore and it applies to Mul...
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Lex,
Agreed with the caveat that we aren't necessarily talking about the Rock of Gibraltar here.
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Lex,
In the Léger Marketing poll, his negative number is at 61% while Marois trails behind with 53%. In addition, 23% of francophones support the Charest go...
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The Political Presence That Is Stephen Harper.
Can't resist picking up on Dan Gardner's column in The Ottawa Citizen: all I can say to fellow scribe Gardner...
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Bernie,
I take your point and understand the sentiments behind it. However, I come from the Trudeau-Ignatieff-Kinsella school of thought. IMHO, a race to bo...
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Bernie,
Some would say that those who oppose many of the policies of this government and the tone set at the top by this Prime Minister are down. Others mig...
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Why Canada Works!
There's a reason why we can be proud to be Canadian -- and it has precious nothing directly to do with which political party forms the fed...
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Bernie,
I'm not by any means a social democrat -- although I admire them. But even I find it extremely troubling to see the concentration of wealth and reso...
Nanos tracking on economic mood shows continued slow erosion (Nanos Economic Indices - June 2012) (2012-06-15)
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Lex,
You are quite obviously a very smart person. No question we have been in a real estate bubble -- what is it? -- these past eleven (11) years (if memory...
-
Time For The Harper Government To Be Pro-Active As Egyptians Vote In Presidential Elections.
Frankly, this piece has been delayed by three weeks. It's origi...
-
Leadership Convention 2013.
Is it fair comment to begin with the premise that everything logically flows from the position that Canadians in general, and th...
-
Leadership: Time For Every Liberal To Listen To His Or Her Heart, Head And Gut.
Some of you may find it odd when I tell you that my choice for Liberal leade...
-
First, Craig Oliver. Tonight It's David Herle.
Looks like I'm in good company. No question they've hit the nail right on the head: the majority mandate rece...
-
You know HC, the impression I get is that Harper believes that the new seats will suffice as a sufficient enough cushion to get him over the top next time. ...
-
E-Mail Composition For Privy Council Members - Lesson One.
You know me, I always endeavour to be helpful to the poor unfortunate politicians who find themse...
-
HC,
You really know this issue well. I know zip about it.
-
HC,
No doubt you are more than familiar, in general terms, with the Monsanto chill. Going forward, I will be deliberately vague for legal reasons but I'm co...
-
HC,
So far, so good.
-
Lex,
Fair points. But you know the old man Harper, if he feels that the wheels are starting to come off the cart before 2015, he'll head damned straight int...
-
Bernie,
I agree with you up to a point. The people are often right -- but they can also be woefully ignorant and that has been reflected by our legislators...
NDP and Conservatives in a tight race (2012-06-08)
-
Hollinm,
There you go again with your black and white assertions. You know very well that most Canadians are in the middle as it relates to oil sands develo...
-
"Canadians are telling the Liberal party they have no interest in Rae as leader but since when did the Liberal party think about the best interest of the cou...
-
Collective Stupidity - The Planet's Most Bountiful Resource...
Déjà-vu. Flashback to 2008-09 to the U.S. financial services crisis and then think about the ...
-
Why Perception Is Stephen Harper's Strongest Political Enemy.
I want to take a look at the Conservative government's Budget Implementation Act -- the omnibu...
-
Hollinm,
I, for one, will meet you half way re: your remarks: sure, the opposition wants to obstruct. That's their job when they consider legislation as eit...
-
Lex,
It may be classic Machiavelli but will it generate any more success going forward? That theory has allowed Harper to scratch out a majority. Granted, t...
-
Hollinm,
Tonight is by-election night in Quebec. Both were previously safe Liberal seats.
I will bet you that even if Charest only gets one, it's off to th...
-
Lex,
I guess this means that a lot of Liberals did one of two things: either they stayed home or they voted for the CAQ.
What puzzles me is whether Charest...
-
Poor Justin.
It's hard being unequivocal in your intention not to run for the Liberal Party leadership when everyone and his brother wants you to. I feel so...
-
Lex,
He should run when or if he's convinced the odds favour his election as leader. To my mind, that means waiting as long as possible to see what other ca...
-
Lex,
I take your point. You moved the logical reasoning beyond my original argument and I cannot quarrel with your conclusions.
-
I'm Watching Our MPs On Television...
How does it make you feel? I mean, really.
Yeah. Me too.
Canadians more likely to think they will be worse than better off than last generation (Nanos Survey) (2012-05-31)
Views of Canadians on Harper's Long-term Priorities (Nanos Survey May 2012) (2012-05-24)
-
Hollinm,
Political self interest rarely trumps economic self interest. Agreed. But remember, this is the long game we're playing and there are no guarantees...
-
Hollinm,
Well, no doubt you remember my longstanding views about the PM's personality! And it didn't make a whit of a difference in three elections. People ...
-
Hollinm,
Yours is a fair statement -- Harper has always made sure to be both polite and respectful in public. The most I've ever seen him off that track in...
-
Hollinm,
On another matter -- have you seen my comment on the European recovery? I would appreciate your perspective on same. And by the way, do you happen ...
-
Hollinm,
It shows that I know nothing about economics. Economists look for evidence before they move to attempt to rectify a given problem. The debate is st...
-
Hollinm,
I would give you a two-part answer: I would put Europe and the United States in the same boat -- that's why I favour semi-equal doses of cost cutti...
-
Hollinm,
I don't really think that we are actually that far apart -- your last sentence says it all. The only difference between us is that if the other maj...
-
Lex,
Thanks for your insight. I would have never thought of that in a million years.
-
The Canadian Monarchy: Is It Just Me???
I mean, I don't know -- I happen to have a lot of admiration and respect for our sovereign and the outstanding way s...
-
The Next Quebec Premier Is Going To Be...
the change agent! That's all I can predict with absolute certainty. By change agent, I don't necessarily mean the ...
-
Does Anyone Have Any Tears Left?
I sure don't. The National Post Forum Poll really clinches it for me. If you feel brave enough -- check out the details but...
-
CPC: Converts To Political Activism In Search Of Judicial Activism?
Simply unprecedented. Former Conservative MP Ted Opitz (Etobicoke Centre) is appealing a...
-
What I Would Do If My Last Name Was Charest.
Thank God, Premier Jean Charest finally appeared briefly at the negotiating table. He has to do more of that wh...
-
Lex,
Nothing of what you say is inaccurate. Mine is an argument in the abstract. Hence the title. I simply find it ironic that a government that frowns on j...
-
Hollinm,
Let me get this straight, if these were honest errors made without intent, we should accept the results even in the closest of elections. Then we s...
-
In Three Words.
Expelling the Syrian chargé d'affaires along with other diplomatic personnel is -- not good enough. They have five days to leave the country...
-
Hollinm,
I will respond to you in roughly an hour. I suggest you move to the TV and catch the last hour of Jubilee Queen with Katie Couric on ABC. (Not bad ...
-
Hollinm,
Allow me to give you an answer that is completely out of character -- in other words apolitical. Imagine for a moment that either or both of us are...
-
Lex,
Agreed but I would add one proviso: in my view, a credible (Arab League) military force that is at least equally well equipped as the Syrian Army must ...
-
Lex,
The government is boxed in. Either way, Charest gets to wear it. Might as well do all that is possible in his capacity as Premier and see whether an ag...
-
Lex,
I certainly don't pretend to have all the answers. I would even go so far as to say that I may never truly have the answers in some instances! In any e...
-
Lex,
I disagree. Charest did not negotiate with rioters...he negotiated with student associations. Anarchists and professional troublemakers are one thing -...
-
Charest's Two Month Election Window?
The Quebec government has broken off negotiations with students associations. Premier Jean Charest is hoping that thing...
Nanos/IRPP Survey - Premiers play a pivotal role in Canadians' lives (Completed April 14th, 2012) (2012-05-09)
-
Remember When Ronald Reagan Said "There You Go Again"???!!!
Take comfort in knowing that precisely nothing has changed in Ottawa since the last election. Th...
-
The Mass Of Contradictory Signals That Is Quebec Politics.
I thank God that my name happens not to be Jean Charest: who would want to be in that guy's shoes...
-
HC,
Agreed.Unfortunately, I expect this to end badly. There will be more violence and the police will react accordingly. When it gets to the point where col...
-
HC,
Check this out for the U.S. numbers:
http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76
-
HC,
I guess some people in Quebec are actually stupid enough to look a gift horse in the mouth!!!!!!!!! They already have by far, the best deal in North Ame...
-
Lex,
I doubt you remember what I told Hollinm in the past: this is a many shaded world of grey -- and that applies to negotiations with so-called terrorists...
-
Why I'm Willing To Bet The NDP Can't Do It On Their Own.
Three and a half years is an eternity in politics. Anything can happen politically during that time...
-
Lex,
Agreed. I would put it this way: if the NDP and Liberals fail to merge before the next election, this Prime Minister might as well send both of their p...
-
Lex,
I'm two years younger than he is and my birthday is two days before his. If he's smart, he does what I do every year -- see my doctor and watch my heal...
-
Let Harper, Be Harper!
Some of you may have noticed that I'm not as keen these days to take on the Harper government on a variety of issues as compared with...
-
The Mulcair Disease Has Even Managed To Lose Robert Redford...
You should realize that you're not exactly at the top of your game when Robert Redford has to...
-
Lex,
I take your point. I think most Canadians and possibly almost all Albertans can agree on a few general parameters: as a for instance, I would suggest t...
-
European Recovery: Why Harper Must Be Supported.
I don't pretend to be an economist. Nor would I suggest that I have any level of expertise as it relates to...
-
Will I Be Dead Wrong Again On The Quebec Election? I Don't Think So.
I don't always agree with Chantal Hébert but I must say I think she is right on the mon...
-
Memo To Those Who Don't Happen To Understand The Strikingly Obvious.
I happen to be a federal Liberal Party member. You know, call me goofy but I have this ...
-
HC,
All that matters is winning. (Well, that's not REALLY all that matters in politics but our politicians believe it.) In that sense, his three (3) majorit...
-
HC,
Got it now. Yes, the conventional wisdom is that it will indeed take at least two (2) election cycles. But that will depend on the quality of the perman...
-
Charest's Unpleasant Alternatives.
What a difference a day makes -- what a bomb shell when the QMI Léger Marketing poll was released revealing that only 51%...
-
HC,
Your are correct. It's merely a social contract between the state and students. There is no legal requirement to negotiate. But both of us have been aro...
Canadians give average performance scores to elected officials (2012-05-02)
-
The Plane Facts: Is It Bullying Or Are They Just Plain Stupid???
No one can seriously question the professionalism, dedication or bravery of our Canadian Fo...
-
Lex,
What are they thinking? Surely it will dawn on even them that the CF-35 is likely to be selected for inter-operability missions but that this Prime Min...
-
Is A Deal With Quebec Student Associations Good Or Bad For Jean Charest?
It seems that a tentative deal has been struck between the Charest government and t...
-
Lex,
Well, the Liberals and CAQ were against concessions until the agreement was reached. In any event, I expect the student associations to vote it down. T...
-
Not A Great Day To Be A Federal Liberal...
They say that April showers bring May flowers...but what about the reverse??? Geez. To read the political comment...
-
HC,
Only two things lead to strong party financing -- one is called inspired leadership, the other is called highly prospective leadership. Right now, we ha...
-
HC,
I wouldn't go so far as to say wither on the vine. IMHO, the Liberal Party will always enjoy some support thanks to a solid rump of what we might term r...
Nanos Federal Tracking: Tories and NDP statistically tied - Harper ahead, Mulcair scores well (2012-04-27)
-
That Thud You Just Heard Is Called The Air Going Out Of The Rae Leadership Trial Balloon...
Well, that tears it. Forget about a Bob Rae leadership run. I do...
-
Time For Canada To Quit Following From Way Behind On Afghanistan.
Candidly, Afghanistan is not about:
finding a way for the Obama Administration, Harper go...
-
Guinness,
If that's really our assessment, we are strategically bankrupt. How comforting -- for our political opponents.
-
Hollinm,
I can honestly say that you've been missed. Like some of the other posters, your candor is both refreshing and appreciated. I imagine this Prime Mi...
-
Whitetailer,
With respect, if Nik has any objections to what I post here, he knows my e-mail. I will be pleased to cease and desist as soon as I hear from him.
-
Hollinm,
Opinion is divided about how communications was run previously in the PMO but I think it's fair comment to say that things have slipped somewhat si...
-
Lex,
"Canadians actually seem to like the guy, which is a huge PR win for Mulcair. A year ago, NO ONE liked Mulcair."
Not only bad news for Liberals. Harpe...
-
Hollinm,
What do you think of this?: sure, MacKay did the government no favours as regards the helicopter and fishing lodge but I believe it's a bum rap for...
-
Hollinm,
I would only quibble with your contention that Mulcair is a socialist. Yes, he's a social-democrat but if he really is a socialist, what was he doi...
-
Hollinm,
Agreed that the optics are terrible but the universal law of the universe regarding ministerial entitlements is that, unfortunately, practically al...
-
Hollinm,
Consider this: were God to suddenly serve as Canadian prime minister, he would be no better served by his ministers. A PMO can't possibly micromana...
-
Hollinm,
I've fought Harper my entire political life (such as it is) -- even before and when we were both in the CPC. I'm still at it today but one thing I ...
-
On Ignatieff.
I've been known as an Ignatieff booster in the past and I don't intend to turn course here. But I will acknowledge that the OLO changes made w...
-
Quebec Election - Monday, May 7, 2012?
Hot damn. That's what is baked into the speculation cake as various media outlets are reporting. What a wild ride it ...
-
Why Quebec's Student Associations Are No Match for Premier Jean Charest.
Quebec Liberals were all set to meet at their General Council this coming weekend. ...
Words used by Canadians to describe federal political parties (2012-04-27)
-
Hollinm,
Perhaps you will agree that for a party to breakout, it needs a B-R-E-A-K-O-U-T leader. Mulcair is well on his way toward achieving that distinctio...
-
dm0720,
You've spoken of your suspicion but what does your gut tell you on merger? Do you see it actually happening? I've gone from opposed to in favour sin...
-
Hollinm,
With respect, are you ever building up a full head of steam. Don't take things so seriously...it's only politics, not really worth giving yourself ...
-
dm0720,
I can see your point that some Liberals will be unhappy about merger with the NDP and would head for the exits. Fair enough. However, I wouldn't spe...
-
dm0720,
Interesting perspective. I am basically convinced that the pragmatist Harper has used a political strategy that has worked better than expected for ...
-
Hi Tom,
You may not post as often as I'd like but when you do, your advice is invaluable to any of the political parties. This piece you've posted is nothin...
-
Tom, Here is my reply. I don't get why you are having trouble on this site. I hope Nik can help you out.
RonaldODowd
Hi Tom,
You may not post as often as ...
-
dm0720,
Quebec would rather go it alone than even consider join the U.S. As a French-speaking society, there is no interest in becoming an assimilated entit...
-
dm0720,
Remember how the monarchy's survival is based on an heir...and a spare? In my view, that's how you have to approach Quebec politics. You need at lea...
-
dm0720,
It is a pleasure to exchange views with you. You bring so much to the debate. Nearly everyone who posts here (the regulars) go out of their way not ...
-
HC,
Very kind of you to offer something to try and help Tom out. More than I can possibly do, I'm afraid...I can barely go beyond typing something that is i...
-
Hollinm,
All I can say (to use the PM's phrase) is thank you for your frank and honest opinion.
-
Hollinm,
You should know by now that treating posters with disrespect is not -- and has not been my style. I would never suggest that you (or anyone else) i...
Nanos Ontario Tracking - LP 35.4%, PCP 32.1%, NDP 26.5%, GP 6.0% (ending April 15th, 2012) (2012-04-19)
Nanos Monthly Economic Monitor - April job security sentiment lowest since 2008 (2012-04-16)
-
Danielle Smith: Back To Leadership 101...
For the life of me, I just can't figure out how Danielle Smith can be so clueless when it comes to regrettable, in...
-
Lex.
[...] "As such, telling MLAs what they can and can't say would be hypocritical."
I would argue that it's equally hypocritical on her part not to let t...
-
HC,
Yes, many of us knew that she was in favour of gay marriage and pro-choice. What I want to hear is not what she's for, it's simply what she thinks perso...
-
HC,
Fair enough. I don't know that I would go so far as to suggest that this series of gaffes will actually lead to Wildrose's demise as regards building mo...
-
Lex,
Well, it proves that even Wildrose is populated with typical politicians. Power at any cost, and by any means possible. In other words, they are quite ...
-
That's my point, Lex. They are no different than any of the other political parties at the federal, provincial or territorial levels. Quite simply, they are ...
-
Welcome To The Next Round Of Skate Ottawa!
Wow, all that fuss about the upcoming Summer Olympics in glorious London. Who cares when we have so much more of ...
-
Lex,
Certainly can't argue with you on that one. However, as you'll recall, Mulroney's Quebec ministers were in a category all of their own. At least Harper...
-
Yes, that is indeed the sad reality. Most people expect nothing better from the politicians. They say we get the governments were deserve -- and regardless o...
-
That's painting with a rather large brush Lex. Indeed, some were separatists like Lucien Bouchard while others were clearly political opportunists who saw th...
-
Lex,
With respect, the storm is coming. Canada is about to face, by far, the greatest threat to her unity in her history. It will start with Pauline's elect...
-
Lex,
Trouble is the people haven't a clue what they really want...many talk a great decentralist game but when you attempt to devolve to the provinces and t...
-
Lex,
In the sense that it would be highly preferable to see Canada evolve to meet the new regional realities rather than remaining static and frozen in fede...
Anatomy of the federal NDP - What Canadians think (a new Nanos survey and numbers from the last election) (2012-03-23)
-
Lex,
Yeah, Harper figures that lightning can -- and will -- strike twice in the same place in 2015. That's up to Canadians but if sitting on their asses rem...
-
Lex,
When you choose a leader, you go with your strongest player. That doesn't mean the guy or gal who is most willing to occupy the job. That also does not...
-
NDP 1st Ballot Results.
Mulcair is about where I expected him to be. I did not expect to see 35%. Topp is much stronger than I expected. But his major liabi...
-
Before Second Ballot Results, What Has Me Worried.
If I'm for Mulcair - is Mulcair the new Claude Wagner with only limited potential for growth? If true, hi...
-
NDP 2nd Ballot Results.
Peggy drops off and indicates that her supporters are split -- translation: as astonishing as that is, they are not prepared to move...
-
NDP 3rd Ballot Results.
Nathan has released his delegates. I'd say Mulcair has got it. He is quite literally being dragged to the position of as leader by a...
-
Behind The Black Curtain...Topp and Cullen Are Talking.
Does this mean that Topp will move after the vote to make it unanimous? We'll see.
-
Kathleen Monk: One Hell Of A Great Progressive!
When I saw Kathleen handing out the party tickets to her fellow Insiders' panelists, I thought...I hope prog...
-
Poor Thomas.
He wants to bring further civility and fundamental decency to the House of Commons as leader. He wants to fight fair. What he needs to do is ta...
-
Lex,
Mulcair will have his work cut out for him. It will come as no surprise to you that I do not agree with his leadership approach. Right now, he's going ...
-
Lex,
Well, yes and no. Jack went out of his way to be civil and it clicked with voters -- but only in Quebec. And besides, frankly, I think his popularity h...
-
Don,
In my mind, there's no question that Mulcair is the legitimate leader. Now, if half of the members could not be bothered to vote, what does that say ab...
-
Mulcair Plans To Bring The Center To The NDP.
The trouble with The New Democratic Party is that it's a political operation with no, as we say in French, por...
-
Don,
I would say No. To me that smacks of opportunism and show-boat-ism. Concretely, it amounts to zip over the long run. I think we would both agree that a...
-
Being A Liberal Just Got A Lot Harder.
Granted, this already is not the best of times for those of us who happen to be members of The Liberal Party of Canad...
-
Don,
Mulcair has reiterated how he looks forward to working with NDP President Rebecca Blaikie. He's also said that when Brian Topp runs in a riding that he...
-
Don,
Frankly, those two gentlemen are talented people. I expect to see them eventually back on board after what one might term a cooling off period. Like al...
-
I don't know Don. There are brillant thinkers who can't win nationally if their life depended on it; There are also mediocre thinkers who somehow manage to r...
-
Don,
A proof is a proof, and when you have a good proof...
In other words, BC is the NDP's Gibraltar. Quebec is its chocolate sundae during a heat wave. On...
-
Alison Redford.
When she came in as Premier of Alberta she had a huge lead, as I recall...how did the PCs manage to squander it and are they really neck and...
-
Lex,
Fascinating. Politics definitely is not boring in Alberta. Thanks so much. My impression is when you are perceived as running against the change agent,...
-
Christian Paradis.
I'm willing to bet that now that this Prime Minister is back in Ottawa that he ain't in the best of moods. And you've guessed it, Christi...
-
Lex,
Ah, the social issues...the trouble with the social issues is that they are neither black or white, they are not a problem that can be "solved". There ...
-
Don,
They will lose seats to the Bloc. That's inevitable even in spite of The Sherbrooke Declaration. You can't hold a lot of what you can't buttress. There...
-
Robocalls: Put To Bed The Idea That A Small Group Was Involved.
Elections Canada Chief Electoral Officer Marc Mayrand appeared before a Commons committee ye...
-
Lex,
If this campaign was carried out nationally, it obviously flows from that that there was some level of organization. To my mind, that could have been d...
-
Don,
I'm not arguing that the numbers are big. I'm saying that it seems to be national in scope. As a result, we know two things: there would have to be som...
-
Don,
I can't speculate on the view of the LPC because I do not speak for the LPC, nor do I speak for the OLO. Like in times past, I do not speak for the CPC...
-
Don,
I take your point about the technical mechanics. Fair enough. But what about the lists? If we go from the starting point that not every telephone numbe...
-
Don,
If redistribution teaches us only one thing, it's that you can't form a government without the West. Those days are long over. Accordingly, if any fede...
-
Don,
We are as one on the following paragraph. It reflects precisely my thinking as well: [...] "IF I was a party operative and IF I was going to pick and c...
-
Yeah Don but that's mixing apples with oranges...no one can dispute that turnout went up but how do you quantify the number of voters whose voting intent was...
-
Don,
Again, I could be wrong but I don't see how Mulcair can even consider giving Quebec more weight or focus than BC. He needs both in equal measure to inc...
-
Hi Don,
We don't disagree that often but also with respect we do on this one. Again, how do you quantify the unquantifyable?! In other words, unless and unt...
-
Lex,
I can understand those feelings. A lot of people went bust and had their lives ruined as a result of the NEP. But hey, with the highest respect to you ...
-
Well Don, I too will go back to a previous comment: I want the NDP and Liberals pretty well neck and neck for as long as possible prior to 2015. If neither p...
-
Trans-Pacific Partnership...I Don't Think So.
Well, there they were -- the new three Amigos at the White House: Barack Obama, Stephen Harper and Felipe Cald...
-
Don,
I would say that the system should work both ways -- those who made fraudulent calls should be charged while those who filed false documents, affidavit...
-
I don't know Don. Agree with you that there will indeed be some bleeding but again, we are trying to quantify the unquantifyable!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In all serious...
-
Don,
I see your point. As for the "much more moderate" CPC, well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For my part, the CPC could go for a hundred years an...
-
Don,
Agreed but as the old saying goes: be careful what you (or I) wish for. Because...if we put every MP statement under the microscope going all the way b...
-
Will Romney Go Steady Tonight?
Gush, golly geez. They've been dating for quite some time now, trying each other out and kicking the tires. Apparently, tonig...
-
Lex,
I'll bet anyone one of those new soon to be discontinued Canadian pennies that if Obama wins re-election (as he told Medvedev on "open" mike) he will i...
-
The Predictable Triumph Of A Monarch's Absolutism.
Tell us, is anyone ACTUALLY surprised? I mean, really. Certainly not me. Just another typical display of ...
-
Premier Danielle?
You could store away what I know about Alberta politics in a thimble but nevertheless I would say this election will be a clear referendum...
-
HC,
Funny how Redford makes the mistake of moving left and is likely to pay for it in spades -- while this Prime Minister runs a semi-continuous streak of b...
-
HC,
"The Alberta PCs have been moving left and becoming "Liberal Lite" for years, even under Klein after he got the finances in order. There was no alternat...
-
Albertans: Be Careful What You Wish For Because You're Probably About To Get It!
I don't know about you but I really enjoyed last night's election debate. A...
-
Liberal Resurrection Reality: A RAPIDLY CLOSING WINDOW.
If we learned one thing from Thomas Mulcair's election as NDP leader it's that the fluidity of polit...
-
Lex,
Well, I would say that is one hell of a lot more telling about the Canadian voter -- than it could possibly be about Mulcair. They may call us adults b...
-
HC,
Like you, I wasn't so sure that Albertans would follow Alison's lead as much as they ultimately did. I knew that Danielle's support was dissipating but ...
-
HC,
Also a very interesting analysis. I'm not so sure that a true Liberal-lite brand can last much more than when it reaches its best before date. But then...
Nanos Economic Monitor - Canadians Cautiously Optimistic (March 2012) (2012-03-15)
-
Economic Malaise And The Coming Transition.
Nik, I would say Canadians are living by their gut these days. They are, by and large, uncomfortable about the f...
-
What Ed Broadbent Got Right.
Wow, no one was expecting this kind of a broadside against Thomas Mulcair, coming as it did from a former leader of the New Dem...
-
The Bum Wrap Against Paul Dewar.
What? Highly selective memory being practiced in federal politics...gee, who ever expected that. How many times have the me...
-
Don,
I think it's stretching it a bit to say that under all the scenarios you've laid out that it's an automatic win for the CPC. That strikes me as a mathe...
-
Maybe It Will Interest You, Maybe It Won't...
My so-called fearless prediction on who will be selected as NDP leader will come on Thursday. I will also give...
-
Don,
1. I would be very surprised to see Topp quit. He is the consummate party man, a team player, but I could be wrong.
2. I doubt that very much. The NDP...
-
Don,
One would expect with the level of Jack admiration and worship still out there (and deservedly so) that they would win with much better than 50% -- if ...
-
Lex,
If he does indeed have a weakness as it relates to learning another language, then I wholeheartedly agree with you that it would be very tough sledding...
-
Lex,
You have political courage and express it in an honourable fashion. Therefore, I will take a go at it tonight rather than wait for Thursday.
I will be...
-
Don,
I wholeheartedly agree with everything that Kinsella has written except for the last line: no one, short of the Lord, (I'm trying to be really polite n...
-
Honestly Don, I really don't know but it seems to me that one has to divide the pre-electoral from the election campaign. My guess -- and it is a complete on...
-
Hey, Thy Name Is Idiot.
Now let's see, how can we do this -- you know, manage to sink the Liberal Party of Canada for at least a generation. I know! How abo...
National Ballot CP 35.7%, LP 29.5%, NDP 25.0%, BQ 4.9% (2012-03-05)
-
Come on Hollinm, lighten up. You know Parnel2 is a much better sparring partner for you than I could ever hope to be. I agree it will take time before this t...
-
The Fix Is In: It's Romney or Bust.
Personally, I would tend to put both Romney and Bust in the same sentence. As CBS News is reporting, Mitt Romney is in e...
-
Lex,
All I can say to Santorum -- to mangle Lloyd Bentsen, is: Senator, you're no John McCain...
-
Who Says There's Never Any Good News In Politics!
Barack and Bibi met in the Oval Office today. Nope, no press conference was held after private talks. Quit...
-
Lex,
Agreed. The other interesting aspect is the relatively concentrated nature of the Iraqi and Syrian installations which permitted a high level of succes...
-
NDP Leadership Race: Truly Mind-blowing Numbers Out Of Quebec.
Wow, I consider myself not a bad strategist but I sure did not see this one coming. The Forum...
-
Lex,
She may very well but what will that likely do to NDP electoral prospects -- I mean, if the party goes down considerably in Quebec, will she be the kin...
-
Lex,
Our trouble is that we happen to be proudly sentient...we look at the popular vote in the last election and then we choose to apply elementary math to ...
-
No Need To Thank Me!
As controversy rages as to whether the Harper government is going to support an NDP motion which will provide enhanced investigative po...
-
Don,
If we've learned one thing in recent years -- not to mention recent weeks, it's that there are no angels in politics.
All parties are capable of cross...
-
Don,
Whomever is behind this (and notice how I did not say whichever party) has set back their cause in the eyes of the Canadian public. As a result, if lin...
-
Don,
I could create for you a hypothetical scenario involving myself: imagine if my name was in a political database. First relevant question: how did it ge...
-
Don,
Yes, The Globe and Mail has a good piece on that. It seems the calls were made without proper identification however the local candidate apparently exp...
-
Can You See Nathan Cullen Coming?
I'm willing to place a fair sized bet that political junkies across the land are not really preoccupied with tracking Rob...
-
Why Obama Should Send Limbaugh Flowers!
I think we're at a turning point as it relates to the possible outcome of the presidential election in November. Rus...
-
Don,
You can't be half-pregnant. Either it's a clear violation -- or it isn't. Agreed that IF Elections Canada ultimately rules that it's a violation, it wo...
-
We Aren't Known As Quebec Nationalists For Nothing.
The most recent Léger Marketing poll seems to echo the latest trend in provincial polls suggesting that ...
-
Don,
People have the legitimate right to question the impartiality of Elections Canada, the RCMP -- you name it, but that doesn't mean I necessarily agree w...
-
Don,
I can't help but wonder what kind of life cycle Robogate will have. My memory is vague but as I recall Sponsorship had at least two waves -- one at the...
-
It's Called Splitting The Difference.
Now that common sense is finally descending upon Ottawa what with Associate Defence Minister Julian Fantino's remarks ...
-
But Don, they are ALL hypocrites from EVERY party. You know as well as I do that every damned one of them has used that technique before to make over-the-top...
-
It's Called Being A Progressive.
If you take a walk over to warrenkinsella.com you will see a post on Justin Trudeau's recent comments about Merger/Coalitio...
-
Lex,
A very solid hypothesis, but I would in fact argue the opposite. When NDP numbers are up, it's easy to be reasonably and perhaps overly confident of ac...
-
Lex,
Highly interesting analysis. I would add this: I would say it's reasonable to suggest that we will get part of the answer next weekend in Toronto -- I ...
Nanos Survey: Average federal cut to spending proposed by Canadians is 21%, median 15% (2012-02-28)
Canadian confidence in pensions erodes over past two years (Nanos Poll) (2012-02-22)
Nanos Economic Monitor - Joyless Optimism (February 2012) (2012-02-15)
-
Hi Nik,
Not being an economist, I'll likely turn out to be full of it but I would say that sentiment largely reflects the health of whatever regional econom...
-
Lex,
No offense meant to you but I find it a rather quaint concept that this government will get all, or at least most, of the bad news out now so it can pu...
-
Memo to Jean Charest.
Two words: start bashing -- and don't let up until election night...
-
What Is Wrong With Our Federal Politics?
It only gets worse -- seemingly with each passing week. Finger pointing becomes the sport of the season in Ottawa a...
-
Don,
Knock me over with a feather but surprise, surprise, this seems to be another in a series of cases where both sides would much rather have the issue --...
-
Don,
Because the point is now moot with the abolition of the long-gun registry, there is no reason to look into it but I'll bet you dollars to donuts that t...
-
Lex,
For the life of me I have absolutely no idea how to strike the right balance when it comes to this kind of legislation. It strikes me as a lose-lose si...
-
Don,
The UK does seem to have a particular pattern as it relates to murders and other killings.
Regarding the LGR, now defunct, these two sites offer an i...
-
Don,
No question that on the question of economic management, everything continues to come up roses for this government. However, I would not want to be in ...
Nanos Economic Monitor - Forward pessimistic view on strength of economy softens (2012-01-06)
-
Sooo...he likes to be able to fire people!
The golden rule of politics is to never, positively never, go off script. Too bad no one ever pounded that into M...
-
Hi Hollinm,
Did you notice the women-men meter on CNN last night? Now, that was instructive of the views of South Carolina Republicans, as yet uncommitted. ...
-
Hollinm,
One more point: it's my understanding (which may or may not be correct) that if the Supreme Court quashes Obamacare, it will be on the narrow quest...
-
True Leadership.
The disease has been correctly diagnosed as a vacuum of leadership -- a few see themselves as the perfect remedy but are any of them really...
-
Hi Lex,
Certainly agree that this has indeed been the traditional approach going all the way back to Richard Nixon. But I wonder whether the Republican nomi...
-
Decoding Dalton McGuinty.
I don't know about you but I discovered a lot of wonderful things this past weekend. First and foremost, a strong spirit of renewa...
-
Lex,
I'm certainly not qualified to gauge his possible level of support across the country. I'll give you that.
-
Hi Donald,
You didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday. Come on Don, circumstances change! Sometimes they are of a political nature -- sometimes related ...
-
Donald,
Thank you. Coyne isn't at the top of his profession for nothing!
-
Lex,
As always, beauty is in the eye of the beholder: unquestionably, generic majority governments are better for the country but in my view, it can cut eit...
-
Hello Stock!
Now come on. That was too cute by half. Sure, I don't deny that we all have friends across party lines -- even good friends. But hey, get real....
-
If Newt Wins - Republicans Lose?
Newt Gingrich seems to be well on his way toward eventually having more political comebacks than ex-wives! Frankly, I didn'...
-
Those Were The Days...
As we prepare for the NDP leadership race results in March, my mind bursts with fond memories of another leadership race -- the 1976 ...
-
Pauline Marois: She's All Steel.
This leader has guts and then some. In spite of having been under a constant barrage for almost a year -- her political and...
-
Donald,
It will be more than somewhat ironic if the newly minted Liberal, Lise St-Denis actually hit the nail right on the head when she deciared that she ...
-
Lex,
I very much enjoyed your arguments. You make both a strong and convincing case. However, what I can't quite get out of the back of my mind is that Newt...
-
Donald,
We are as one on your last point.
-
I don't know Don. Legault's gang is dysfunction central right out of the gate. As strategists, you would probably agree with me that CAQ made a tremendous er...
-
Donald,
Like him or loath him -- almost everyone admits that Rae is doing a good job as interim leader. When you move beyond that point, that's where the ri...
-
Don,
Thanks! Those geniuses in the NDP just kill me. They remind me of the guy before the firing squad who says it really isn't that bad because...they have...
-
Lex,
I know zip about the internals of the NDP but my sense of it is that Topp's support is an enthusiastic mile wide while an inch deep. Admittedly, I coul...
-
But then Lex, if your scenario is correct, and it may well be, that brings us to the $64,000,000 question: can Nash (or anyone else) form even a minority NDP...
-
Hot Damn: Quebec Election Here We Come!
I can't wait to get to the month of May -- that's when I expect Quebec Premier Jean Charest to go to the people in s...
-
Beware the Ghost of Solange Denis Loranger.
Who can forget that ironic encounter between then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the feisty senior on Parliam...
-
Mr. Speaker,
Members of the BIE,
Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
To my mind, it's really a no-brainer. Nothing quite like choosing the dean of the Hous...
-
Lex,
Economists and Actuaries are the only people capable of being rational on this issue. For the rest of us, especially those expecting to be on the recei...
-
Donald,
We've all seen the spike up in the charts and the eventual dropping down. No question there will be a revenue shortfall and that the matter has to b...
-
Lex,
Fixing anything -- including an approval rating is tricky business on the best of days. Just ask the other federal leaders...
-
Why The West Can't Win On Iran.
As the United States, European Union, Canada and other nations continue to tighten the noose on Iran - by imposing some of t...
-
Security Council Vote: China and Russia Let Syria Off The Hook.
Well, this is indeed a black day in the history of world diplomacy. China and Russia have ve...
-
Lex,
As you know, recent reports have it that the new-and-improved bunker buster has just been deployed on at least one American long-range bomber. If Israe...
-
Lex,
Excellent points. Very persuasive. For the first time in his political life Putin is at least -- wobbly. I think there will be enough fraud perpetrated...
-
Lex,
Surreal. I mean no other word for it: Obama breaks relations with Syria while we...wait for it...stick around to yell at Assad. Look how great that's w...
-
If A Palestinian State Comes Into Being -- It Will Not Be Through Bilateral Negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is none too pleased to s...
-
Lex,
CORRECTION: (It seems I'm slipping.) Obama has recalled the ambassador and closed the embassy but hasn't broken off diplomatic relations. Nonetheless, ...
-
The Trouble With Delusional Stupidity.
I don't have to tell you what it means to be involved in politics. You all know how large the egos tend to get - even...
-
CF35: As Controversy Heats Up - How About A Look Back.
As the debate intensifies over Canada's eventual purchase of CF35 fighter jets, perhaps looking back ...
-
Well, Defence Minister Peter MacKay could not pinned down on whether Canada will order 65 CF35s.
Dovetail that with this Prime Minister's comment that the p...
-
Justin Trudeau.
Can you spell backpedaling? From what I hear, Trudeau's remarks did not exactly go down well with caucus. Here's what he said to Radio-Canad...
-
Mandatory Minimums: Cruel and Unusual Punishment?
So says a judge of the Ontario Superior Court who has refused to impose a mandatory minimum sentence. Can ...
-
My Political Heroes.
Hopefully, all those of us with an avid interest in politics have at least one political hero. In my case, I happen to have two, namely...
-
Hi Bernie,
As you know, I'm not a big fan of attack politics. It has its place when the temperature is already beyond boiling but yours truly only resorts t...
-
Bernie,
I basically take two positions here: like you, on a personal level, I prefer wide judicial discretion. But on the other hand, has Parliament gone be...
-
Bernie,
Agreed as it relates to correcting the record. But we did plenty of that in the last campaign and it only worked to a certain extent, IMHO. The voti...
-
Hi HC,
Remember, this Prime Minister said back in 2006 on election night that the West Was In. And I have no quarrel with that -- nor with the fact that the...
-
HC,
And I thought I WAS the true cynic around here. (Wink!)
-
HC,
I tend to concur. However, I would say that it has surprised me that this Prime Minister has not learned as much about governance as I was expecting at ...
-
Lex,
I agree with your analysis of Michael's personal capabilities. As for the post-Chrétien Liberals, I remain convinced to this day that Liberals (and I ...
-
Lex,
True but I will always be wary of further political balkanization (to borrow half a phrase from PET) which is very dangerous for the country's future. ...
-
Lex,
Interesting psychological chess move but I will never support this deal. The price is obscene and I just can't fathom a one-engine fighter doing sovere...
-
Lex,
One more point which offers an interesting dimension. As a society and a government, we seem to be prepared to spend money like it's going out of style...
-
HC,
Every region, province and territory has its legitimate gripes, big and small against Uncle Ottawa. In the West, the bigee is the NEP. But that's ancien...
-
Yes HC, and even if we hypothetically put this contract to tender as had initially been said, we would hardly save a boat full of cash.
-
You said it yourself HC -- to paraphase, symbolism is a powerful tool in politics and this government is in one hell of a pickle because of it. In my view, b...
-
Bernie,
I don't know if you happen to agree with us but Don and myself are as one on this issue. We both believe that the NDP are quite literally sunk in Qu...
National Ballot CP 36.5%, NDP 28.7%, LP 25.6%, BQ 4.4% (2011-12-29)
Party Funding and Corporate Tax Cuts: Coincidence? Not Likely (2011-02-06)
-
Hey CanadianSense,
Nice chessboard. Didn't anyone tell you that a representation of the dark blue chess team seems a logical approach for the Conservative P...
-
Hi Zachary,
Remember, April showers will bring May flowers for...someone. Hang in there, it's bound to get a lot more interesting than you think! Expect, th...
-
Hi Hollinm,
Might I suggest that political parties only truly resonate with the Canadian people and voters in general when they deliberately choose to refle...
-
Mea Culpa, Uncle Jean!
If one of my best friends didn't say it once, he must have said it A Thousand Times: never, ever, underestimate Jean Charest. And so ...
-
hollinm,
We can quibble about the details of closely aligning elements of what is perceived as our sovereignty with the United States but basically, we are ...
-
hollinm,
I'm saying that we have to look forward -- not back. As much as I admire Stéphane Dion, each leader brings his own agenda and style to the party. M...
-
hollinm,
Again, the devil is in the details...in this case of the Justice Minister's bill. Nicholson says it's only meant to address the serious problem of ...
-
Come on hollinm. With respect, put yourself in his shoes. Michael is a human being. He has been subjected to an ever constant bombardment of ridicule and ins...
-
Zachary,
Thank you. Nice to see you as well! You've read the comments over at THE and Éric's take. I will take a wait and see on this poll. I'm not so full ...
Federal Tories continue to lead, Harper advantage as best PM erodes (Nanos Poll Completed November 5th 2010) (2010-11-10)
-
Tom,
Bernie,
We get the government we deserve...because WE put them there. And so we have.
-
Tom,
The pending new seats are a step in the right direction. But a baby step. To my mind, we have to move away from First Past The Post to some form of mod...
-
A F G H A N I S T A N.
George Santayana:
"Progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness. When change is absolute there remains no being...
-
Bernie,
How can we be surprised. Our leaders breath to take the easy way out. Coasting to nowhere is the new national political sport in Canada. It's as big...
-
Bernie:
That's better --
How can we be surprised. Our leaders breathe to take the easy way out. Coasting to nowhere is the new national political sport in...
-
Bernie,
Thank you!
-
Peter1a,
Thanks!
-
A Modern Governor General.
With my time winding down on the internet, I thought I would take a stab at an issue which in the overall scheme of things does...
-
Hollinm,
I would appreciate your view on the following: I think the coalition thing still has some positive thunder left in it but it isn't what it used to ...
-
Hollinm,
Like you, I agree that any potential coalition has to command support of the House. We will agree to disagree on whether that includes Bloc tacit s...
-
Here's How I'd Handle Afghanistan.
Starting point: read Travers.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/890173--travers-politics-permeates-afghan-missi...
-
Hollinm,
I think we are on the same wavelength. I suspect we both also expect it to be an upward fight in the next election. Any neutral observer has to agr...
-
Zachary,
I will wait to hear what Michael has to say in the House before I take my position any further. If the government wants to play chicken with the ...
-
Come on Zachary. That one can be pinned on a lot of Liberals -- but not Michael!
He wasn't even around when the Martin shuffle took place. How fortunate f...
-
Dear Readers,
Thanks for your support. And a special thank you to my editor -- who only edited me once. Something to do with pepper, as I recall!
All the b...
Conservatives have advantage - women undecided (Nanos Poll completed October 6th 2010) (2010-10-14)
-
Hollinm,
With respect, I would say that we are further away from majority government than we've ever been in recent memory. To my mind, what's important is ...
-
Wilf Day,
Excellent post.
-
Hollinm,
On the UN: Ignatieff's remarks are nothing more than a sidebar. The main story is on the PMO fumbling the ball and blowing the vote count. The real...
-
Hollinm,
You can say a lot of things about this Prime Minister but strategically inept is not one of them. Of course the directive went out on Day 1 of th...
-
The Cameo Prime Minister.
Who would have thought that Stephen Harper was actually THIS outgoing. First it was a guest appearance on Corner Gas and now this ...
-
Zachary,
I can't help myself. LOL. There goes party discipline!
-
I've Been Both Spectacularly Right And Wrong.
Trust me, being right is much, much, better!
It seems that 74% in the Question Period poll think the Harper g...
-
Now Zachary, you know as well as I do that none of OUR federal parties would be so low as to goose the QP poll. Simply not imaginable by any of the gang on P...
-
Zachary,
When even bother to bring it up -- the old man telegraphed a long time ago his intentions. In short, he will think back to the U.S. vote on the S...
-
Zachary,
I intend to prove you wrong on that come election night! Wait and see.
-
Zachary,
Your a better man than I am. IF we lose, I'm gone. My heart won't be in it any longer...plain and simple -- and refreshingly honest.
-
See Zachary. It's already started. Two major spelling mistakes in one day. That should be You're...
-
HC in AB,
Thanks for bringing this interesting piece of news to our attention. Much obliged.
-
Separating Themselves From Max!
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why word hasn't come down (and won't) from the hallowed halls of the PMO telling Maxi...
-
Stephen Harper: The Grudging Interventionist.
For those of us who watched this Prime Minister in the House today, I thought body language spoke volumes. The...
-
Peter1a,
If memory serves, they presently hold all Saskatchewan seats with the exception of Ralph's. If they aren't smart enough to do what it takes not t...
-
Oops. ...who am I to start complaining!
-
Peter1a,
It's my impression (which may be wrong) that no deal affecting detention in Canada can be made without our government's prior consent. In additio...
-
Yes Peter, they did in effect rule that his Charter rights were violated but if I remember correctly they also said that it was not appropriate for the court...
-
Peter,
I would say no, they can't block him since he's a Canadian citizen.
As much as they want but they have no leverage to use against this governmen...
-
Peter,
Yes, he can sue but it's more dicey than say for Arar -- or some of the others who are still before the courts. I would still give it a shot but ag...
-
Is Potash Suddenly Turning Into "Peanuts"?
Hi Tony, can you feel that heat rising across the Saskatchewan prairie? I sure can. I think Premier Brad Wall has...
-
Zachary,
You and I both know how the trajectory of this thing is going to go -- up like a rocket, followed by crash and burn. These people are the usual rig...
-
Zachary,
And you do a wonderful job! That aside, I don't know Zachary. Canadians by and large tend to regard health care as the number one priority. Yes, ...
-
HC in AB,
You won't get an argument from me. Thing is, I expect that both the provinces and territories will hit the wall long before then -- and as a re...
-
It Was Like Pulling Teeth...But Blackburn Has Apologized.
I will commend the government for that, even though it came belatedly. It was the right thing to do.
-
And Now, Amateur Poetry Hour!
By all means, please feel free to join in:
If Vic decides,
Omar likely cries.
-
Bernie,
LOL.
-
It's been a while since we are as one Zachary: Election, please but to each of us our own electoral strategy.
We could wish each other good luck but both ...
-
Now Zachary, you must not extrapolate the Ford results out too far into the politicosphere. IMHO, that would be a grave error (sorry, Frank!) in strategic ta...
-
Zachary,
Poor Republicans...never managed to get past Strategic Tactics 101. When you want to nail a president, you don't concentrate your fire or resourc...
-
Zachary,
Yes, clear advantage for Conservatives -- but I wouldn't break out the Eau de Conservative just yet.
-
Zachary,
I'm looking into this one.
-
Zachary,
Ditto.
-
Zachary,
I may be out of politics by then but for you, a friendly wager will be a must!
-
Zachary,
Will agree with you to the extent that those upcoming byelections will take on much more importance than is generally given them. Let's leave it a...
-
Zachary,
I agree that the leader's word has to be law on fundamental Liberal party policy. But that should be restricted to the narrowest focus of issues --...
-
Zachary,
I want to hear what physicians inside the Liberal party have to say: that means not only Keith -- Hedy, Caroline, Kirsty et al. Yes, they are not s...
-
Zachary,
Slept perfectly soundly last night. Hell, I had to put up with this Prime Minister for over four years as leader -- pissed me off many a time but...
-
Zachary,
The Baby Boomer Retirement Bomb is about to anal probe all levels of government. Agree with you that this must be addressed -- preferably through...
-
Again, Zachary, it certainly isn't a negative for CPC byelection fortunes but I wouldn't read too much into it.
-
Against Harper: It Seems I Have A Little More Company In Quebec!
Raymond Giroux
Le Soleil
(Ottawa) Malgré son titre officiel, Stephen Harper ne dirige pas ...
-
Zachary,
I wonder why the bill was defeated -- apparently when the government along with the majority of members in the House vote against proposed legislat...
-
Zachary,
Right. Like that's never happened in the last five years. Just ask Jim Flaherty on Income Trusts, Tony Clement on the census, etc. Need I say more?
-
Zachary,
Honestly, there's really no way to know one way or the other. Just look to the Dumont experience: down, then up, then down again with a steady incl...
-
Zachary: My Pie-In-The-Sky Projections For Next Tuesday.
Republicans take the House of Representatives with a gain of sixty (60) seats.
Republicans take th...
-
Zachary,
Either you are incredibly good as a chess move strategist, seeing many moves ahead -- or at penning fiction. Which is it? The former or the latter...
-
Zachary,
As an aside, it's not nice to try and make a committed Liberal like yours truly laugh like that. Fortunately, I had enough resolve to defeat the at...
-
Zachary,
Yes we did but being on the cusp altered some of our previous views. I wouldn't call the incumbent party silly or stupid. Both Reagan and Clinton l...
-
Zachary,
I've only been half-joking elsewhere as here about Force Bernier rather than Force Quebec. But that's been political theatre. (You know how I like ...
-
I don't know Zachary. This isn't Johnson we're talking about. I don't see Obama standing down, even under difficult political circumstances. And besides, Hil...
-
Zachary,
All of the above whether it ends up as mere supposition or dyed-in-the-wool fact is proof enough of why this Prime Minister has let Maxime cackle o...
-
Zachary,
We think that now but we can both remember how it started to really go down hill during Trudeau-Stanfield and it has been a continual trip down eve...
-
Yes indeed. Good night, Zachary.
-
Zachary,
The best punch back I saw recently was from Bill Owens. Even today, the Democrats hit Matt Doheny rather effectively in an ad.
-
Zachary,
It's been my experience that it is always better to have friends in the media rather than enemies. You'll remember that even back when I was still ...
-
Will He, Or Won't He?
Actually depends on whether this Prime Minister listens to his brain or his heart. I know which way I'd go as PM. What about you? But ...
-
Zachary,
One more point: as you know, in the United States legislation prohibits foreign multinationals or other foreign corporations from buying American...
-
Zachary,
IMHO, it's more than reserving reserves (how do you like that one!) to meet our own needs. That's important but beside the point. It's also not abo...
-
Way To Go Harry!
Thanks for making the rest of my week. Nevada can be proud that Ms. 2nd Amendment Remedies gets to move on to "other" career opportunitie...
-
Consertative Supporter,
You forgot to tell us whether you want the Potash deal blocked or not.
-
Consertative Supporter,
Thanks but it's more like a lucky guess. As for Nik, we can both appreciate that he has to deal with a lot more than this web site...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Who would you like to see succeed him as leader of the BC Liberals? And what can that person do to take the sting out of HST short o...
-
Thank You.
I want to put my partisanship aside for a moment (I hope that normally I'm not seen as rabidly partisan) and thank both Industry Minister Tony Cl...
-
Oops. There I go making the same mistake I've preached against. That should read: [...] Tonight, I'm proud of the government. [...]
-
Zachary,
The trend seems to be your friend but I know both of us would not bet our lives on the reliability of online polls.
But the thing, I think, to...
-
Zachary,
How can you even resort to a fall-back position of trench warfare when you aren't willing "at this time" to engage the enemy's trenches???...when...
-
Zachary,
In the final analysis, it is what it is -- and what it has been for over a year. Michael and Peter get to wear it. It's their game plan...and no,...
-
Zachary,
Common sense dictates that if we lose every byelection, there's no way to paint that as good. I hope we win Vaughn but I don't have the local exp...
-
Peter1a,
I suspect the government had a number of motives for taking this decision. But that's politics. Where I think things could get dicey for them is if...
-
Please Focus!
James Rajotte, James Rajotte, James Rajotte, James Rajotte, James Rajotte. Thanks.
-
Consertative Supporter,
I'm rather disappointed with your remarks about women and the cabinet vacancy. I don't agree. In fact, most of the women I know are ...
-
An Open Letter To Michael.
Michael,
Like many Canadians, I was incredibly moved watching the veterans protest on Parliament Hill and across the country abo...
-
Peter1a,
Thanks for your support on this.
-
Bernie,
Actions speak louder than words. The government has started to move but it has a big housecleaning ahead of it -- one that it obviously does not w...
Healthcare pulls away from economy as top national issue (2010-10-05)
-
True Patriot Love,
Bring on the election, ASAP!!!
-
This Government Is Not Exactly Devoid Of Political Judgment...
Harper and company know they're just about beaten already. It has finally sunk in.
-
Zachary,
I don't dispute what you've written but I would remind you about the rest of what Duceppe said -- which he repeated on CPAC last night: in his mi...
-
Breaking Out Big John.
You know that Conservatives can smell trouble ahead when they send John Baird in front of the microphones and cameras. That's troub...
-
Dear Prime Minister,
Please pay close attention. As far as I'm concerned, logic suggests that I should not have to say this more than once:
DISMISS.
DEMOT...
-
Zachary,
Nice deflection but not to the point. You know perfectly well that my post deals with the bureaucrats. So far, it looks like some are a law onto ...
-
Zachary,
What's got you in such a knot? One guys says he paid. The other says he didn't. As to whether it was in fact lobbying, I will leave that to the E...
-
Zachary,
Michael gets to call the tune...and live with the consequences -- good or bad.
-
Zachary,
I take your point that it started under the Liberal minister. She and her successor apparently both received briefing notes on health conditions of...
-
Peter1a,
I don't favour the purchase of CF-35s, at least not in the numbers the Harper government is suggesting. The cost is prohibitive and escalating cont...
-
Zachary,
Quite obviously, I have no knowledge of that aspect but whatever can be made public under the law about that particular component should be. Canadi...
-
Zachary,
You and I happen to be in perfect agreement on the IR poll: Liberals have to work harder. We must redouble our efforts to win the confidence of Can...
-
Where are my manners Zachary!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. Over and out.
-
Prime Minister Forgets To Bed Down In Fort McMurray!
Poor Stephen Harper. The job is really starting to take its toll -- some might of thought that by letti...
-
Zachary,
I wouldn't bet the farm on that if I was you. As for Fantino, I would give him the win unless something out of the ordinary happens.
-
BS, Conservative Style!
Just when you think you've seen everything conceivable out of the PMO, they somehow manage to come up with a topper -- let's get t...
-
Here's An Idea For The Harper Government.
In light of our recent diplomatic faux pas, perhaps we could contact our good friend Chile (which may or may not...
Federal Conservative Advantage Evaporates (Nanos Poll Completed September 3rd 2010) (2010-09-08)
-
Bad Company,
I disagree 100%. People want to size up the Liberal alternative. That is their right. And you can't do that properly before an election with th...
-
Hi Tom,
I could be wrong but I think a majority is out of the question for both major parties unless they take a new strategic tact. Both Harper and Ignati...
-
Bernie,
This isn't rocket science: if people choose to vote Liberal, this Prime Minister is out. Conversely, if the NDP, Greens or other third parties are s...
-
Hi Hollinm,
We have several polls with this Prime Minister down from 2006's 36%. What that means is that we aren't wild about Harry but we are tired of pres...
-
Fiona,
I think many issues have taken a toll on this government but I would suggest that the Helena Guergis mess has been devastating. When Canadians get a ...
-
Hi Zachary,
When this Prime Minister takes deliberate positions that tend to rub women the wrong way -- what should one expect...I saw this one coming quite...
-
O Canada,
Maybe someone should erect a "Hey Blockhead!" board in front of the Langevin Block...
-
Tom,
I would think Liberals have a pretty good chance of addressing justice and fairness -- but equal representation (as in Triple E Senate) well, sadly, fo...
-
Hollinm,
Ask Harper if he's sending me HIS good wishes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Hollinm,
I never was! But truth be told, I did receive holiday greetings in an e-mail from the PMO at least once and perhaps twice after the Conservatives f...
-
Stephen Harper: A Liberal Good Luck Charm!
This Prime Minister -- the bountiful fountain that keeps on giving. Isn't it enough that this government has so f...
-
Canadian Lover,
It's easy for Max to play the independent -- after all, he has nothing further to lose as long as this Prime Minister is in office. Everyo...
-
Canadian Lover,
And as if this Prime Minister did not have enough troubles. Can you just picture it -- Danielle Smith, leader of the national Wildrose All...
-
Canadian Lover,
My favourite billboard for all EAC places that received money:
"Mr. Harper, Your Time Is Up!!!"
(s) Michael Ignatieff
-
Canadian Lover,
Sure -- he's got less of a tight grip but remember, none of them really have any balls to speak of. Translation: Harper will get to go dow...
-
Canadian Lover,
Except for Stock, of course.
-
Canadian Lover,
So much for this Prime Minister getting the "Borden" vote!!!
-
And Michael Chong.
-
Canadian Lover,
You know what they say -- out of sight, out of mind...
-
Canadian Lover,
IMHO, unless he comes up with a strategic masterstroke (which I seriously doubt), this Prime Minister is out on his ass as soon as the ele...
-
Canadian Lover,
Remember, they did it to both Churchill and de Gaulle -- and Harper isn't even close to being either of them.
-
If What I'm Hearing Is Correct...
Harper will announce federal funding for the Quebecor Arena in Quebec City while in town on Monday. We'll see!
-
Wally,
I think it's safe to say that Jack has quietly decided to do whatever it takes on an individual basis to get the votes he needs to save the long-gun ...
-
Danielle Smith's Siren Song!
I must say that the Lord is both kind and merciful. The way politics have been going on in Ottawa has led to the need for a tun...
-
Tomorrow's Man In Quebec City.
Quebec Premier Jean Charest is a man I respect, both as a person and as premier. But as some of you know, it's my fervent wis...
-
Stupid Is As Stupid Does.
I know political desperation when I see it. A case in point: those fawning Nordiques zealots poised before any operating camera in...
-
Observant,
True and loyal Canadians will make a democrat choice. And it will be the right one whether it's for Harper, Ignatieff, Layton, May or any of th...
-
Observant,
Yes, it will be fun for some -- not so much for others. That's the beauty of Canadian democracy. Which party will Canadians repose their trust ...
-
Observant,
Your level of self-confidence is simply astounding -- not to mention foolish. Every strategist has to have a back door plan in case unforeseen, o...
-
Observant,
Please try sucking in some of that hot air...it might do you some good!
The West had to put up with over a decade of Pierre E. Trudeau. Sure, th...
-
Observant,
Yeah right. If Michael is such a piece of shit, why are we tied with Conservatives in THREE SUCCESSIVE polls???
You'll very soon get to eat thos...
-
Observant,
Your party is perennially terrified of an election. How can that be with the GREAT helmsman Harper at the head of the team. Surely, you're ready ...
-
Observant,
I'M glad I've got him and we'll kick some Conservative butt as soon as an opportunity presents itself. See ya on the campaign trail!
-
Observant,
Shows what you know about Quebec politics...PRECISELY NOTHING.
You don't UDI when support for sovereignty is at a piddling 40% in the polls. You...
-
Observant,
I do not hate Harper or anyone else. In fact, I'm eminently capable of holding a civil conversation with the man -- if circumstances require it. ...
-
Observant,
Wrong again. Jack knows his urban seats are in play and that's why he is systematically turning his MPs' votes over one at a time. He's not stupi...
-
Observant,
So obvious? You mean Conservatives praying for a miracle. Political accountability is coming and it has the CPC's name all over it.
-
Observant,
Try a long head soak. It might eventually bring some clarity!
-
Observant,
You guys must really be I-D-I-O-T-S. Once Kim Campbell reads the above she won't be willing to take your calls. She learned the lesson the hard w...
-
Observant,
Pure, unadulterated B-U-L-L-S-H-I-T based on Conservative political desperation. Is there nothing you won't say, no fabrication you won't weave i...
-
Observant,
Jack would rather see YOU GUYS go down than any other political outcome in Canadian politics.
Believe THAT.
-
Observant,
Not as long as I have one breath left in me.
-
Observant,
Repeating that a thousand times STILL won't make it true.
-
Observant,
Sorry. Jack won't agree that "precisely nothing" qualifies as a Harper concession. He learned that lesson on Afghan documents. He'd rather watch ...
-
Hollinm,
Can you actually say with a straight face that this is a PMB?
This is a GOVERNMENT bill, mandated by the PMO disguised as a PMB. Dear Candice is m...
-
Hollinm,
Respectfully, I disagree. In politics you have to keep an eye like a laser beam on the prize, i.e. doing all you can to win. That means what the le...
-
Observant,
Bob will be there where you all can see him...in the FRONT row -- right in this Prime Minister's face.
-
Observant,
I concede nothing of the sort. Everyone will be there -- with bells on. We will be united behind our leader, working in unison toward the day whe...
-
Observant,
Michael was, is and will continue to be a proud Canadian. Some other Canadians behave in a manner that instills less pride. Off hand, I can think...
-
Observant,
I see Jack and NDP reality while all you see is Conservative wishful thinking re: NDP conduct. Your view of the NDP represents only the interest...
-
Observant,
Proving you dead wrong is bound to be so much fun!
-
Observant,
Keep spinning at a furious pace. You might just make orbit with your fanciful yarns.
-
Observant,
Is this a re-write on the fly? In your last "version" it was Rae who was "waiting". Or perhaps it's multiple choice -- take your pick!
Got you, ...
-
Observant,
That document was null and void the moment Michael became leader. (There's a reason he was the last person to sign the document...) I was in the ...
-
Observant,
Please crane your neck just a little to the point above your post. Thank you!
-
Observant,
I plan to supply all the proof you need on election night.
-
Hi Zachary,
I'm planning to look at that but I do know that some are saying that some backtracking has already begun with regard to some comments made. (T...
-
Observant,
You'll more than likely soon find out...
-
Zachary,
They're making a non-confidence vote quilt!
-
Observant,
Just check The Toronto Sun, "winner".
-
Observant,
You are certainly living proof of your own pet theory...
-
Observant,
Quite obviously, you know precious little about how our British parliamentary institutions operate...for you to suggest that this amounts to a ...
-
Zachary,
Mr. Davey's remarks amount to acting stupidly.
As for being even more STUPID, please see below. Thanks.:
Dimitri Soudas' comments -
The ...
-
Observant,
Now, you're really being ridiculous: are you planning to head to Great Britain (under that logic) to string up the Scottish First Minister, Ale...
-
Come on Zachary. Of course, Davey should apologize and I hope Michael makes a statement. Davey does not speak for Michael -- nor do I. But what Davey said ca...
-
Excuses = too close to the French -- what I meant was an apology.
-
Zachary,
Yes, and with GOOD REASON. Otherwise, somebody who happens to form government would get their way and sink the Long-gun Registry. Not my idea of ...
-
Zachary,
I agree but we don't want to cause too much trouble or expense for Nik. After all, he's good enough to put up with most of us without having to r...
-
Zachary,
Obviously, yours is not my view: never vote against your conscience, point one.
Point two: if necessary, resign as Chong did.
Point three: ...
-
Observant,
Perhaps you should do us all a favour and disappear from this board...
-
Zachary,
My response to yours was not deliberately meant to be testy. I apologize if it seemed that way but both of us like to strongly and usually in civ...
-
Zachary,
I'm busy for about 15-20 minutes but would appreciate your take on Julia Gillard finally forming government in Australia (with the help of 2 of t...
-
Observant,
We'll just see whose tails are between their legs as soon as the votes are counted.
-
Here's a little gem from The National Times:
So it turns out that Andrew Wilkie, the former intelligence analyst, turned whistleblower, turned politician,...
-
Don't Bet Against The Albertan Even When That Goes Against The Wishes Of Alberta.
III—Whether the convention exists
It was submitted by counsel for Canada, ...
-
Bernie,
I respect that but there has to be limits on popular sovereignty. A case that easily comes to mind is the widespread support for segregation in th...
-
Bernie,
I've never read it but yes, the Sunshine Girl has caught my eye on more than one occasion!
Even if it were a rag, you simply don't go out of yo...
-
Zachary,
Come on. Let it go. That's one man's opinion but it hasn't gone over the radio or television for a huge group of people to hear.
I'm sure Ber...
-
Zachary,
If memory serves, this Prime Minister has made two SCC appointments.
It would be incredible if his choices were not at least somewhat along th...
-
Bernie,
I agree with your approach but even God wouldn't have been able to convince southerners to renounce slavery and regard black people as equals. I t...
-
Zachary,
I've taken Blaney at his word when he said the PMO and this Prime Minister were caught off guard by the flying Nordiques jerseys that mysteriousl...
-
Zachary,
It's not like there isn't hyperbole about the long-gun registry coming from only one side: I seem to remember a prime minister who said something...
-
Zachary,
Shall we book a joint appointment at the hospital in the Department of Wishes, Hopes and Fondest Dreams???!!!
-
Zachary,
No. I'm sure you won't mind if there is food there for Conservatives and I don't rejoice over that fact. No question that "POX" TV will have an i...
-
Zachary,
Yes sir. But politics is a cruel business. I can't help but wonder which one of our respective parties is destined for an intense anal probe from...
-
Zachary,
I'm heading home. You may want to catch the Ipsos poll on Éric's site. Makes for interesting SWING reading. See you. Perhaps later tonight.
-
That Exquisite Sound You Heard On Your Newscasts Tonight Is Known As...
Prime Ministerial SOUR GRAPES! Nothing quite like the whining of a soon-to-be defeat...
-
You Tell Me!
Let's see, first you unceremoniously dump a woman as your candidate and then -- wait for it-- get this, you apparently replace her with another...
-
What Next? I know, BLACK Hockey Jerseys!
In the movie and television business at least you get to do selective reshoots! Not so in politics where the bonehe...
-
Bernie,
Excellent post.
-
Zachary,
No they aren't. Their kissing cousins, the Bloc Québécois, were willing to abide by a former coalition agreement between the Dion Liberals and th...
-
True And Loyal Canadians, My Ass!
Dear Joseph,
We thought the world was well rid of you. Your legendary shenanigans with your sidekick Roy brought tremendo...
-
Zachary,
Sure, but you know the saying as well as I do: he who hesitates is LOST. And this Prime Minister choked -- big time!
His numbers in Quebec wil...
-
Zachary,
This does not relate to anything in the press -- only the conduct of certain individuals who dare to presume that they can define who happens to ...
-
Zachary,
In my book, we're all good Canadians unless we demonstrate otherwise and that applies across the board regardless of which party we may happen to...
-
Come on Zachary -- we've all been there at one time or another. Remember when I told you that you could save Canada later!!!
We are all guilty of that in ...
-
I'm A Pretty Good Guy -- But Not THAT Good!!!!
So...I'll just throw it out there for Zachary and see if as a Conservative, he'd care to tell us which way ...
-
Conservative Job One: Playing Canadians For Fools.
W-H-I-P-P-I-N-G is in the eye of the beholder: sometimes it's really great -- other times not so much...y...
-
Zachary,
Nice spin! Let's just take my favourite Conservative as an example. As you know, I worked for Josée in her last campaign. Funny, but she does not s...
-
Zachary,
A man of his age should try to be less emotional. But I digress.
I will concede that the Conservative "+15" strategy is theoretically viable. It c...
-
Zachary,
At least we're UP FRONT and honest about it.
-
Zachary,
That's the wonderful thing about this Prime Minister's Senate Conservative trough -- now Liberals have to roll up their sleeves on the House side a...
-
Absolute Political Certainty In Ottawa - WITHOUT A Majority!
Harper: "And the party I lead will not rest until the day it is abolished”;
Guergis: "They’re ...
-
Zachary,
Please check your transmission -- it seems to be stuck in reverse. I wonder why!
-
Zachary,
You sure are up on the past. Very impressive your command of all the vital statistics. I admire that. I hope you are as equally impressive going fo...
-
Zachary,
You're a brave man if you're actually willing to put some serious $$$ on that prospect. This wonderful world of ours is full of political surprises...
-
Ignatieff on Mansbridge One On One.
Every political junkie along with every thinking Canadian should watch this to get the measure of the man. I enjoyed it ...
-
Zachary,
We sleep soundly because the overall trend will be our friend and time will be on our side. Just you watch it happen.
-
Zachary,
Michael doesn't need redoes - remember, he used to be on British television. He knows instinctively that the medium is the message. But he also kno...
-
Zachary,
Good night. Try not to dream of a Liberal majority government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Over, and out.
-
Bernie,
I respect your view. It's proof that all the parties have a way to go to live up to what many if not most Canadians reasonably expect of them.
-
Zachary,
I can't intelligently discuss this issue -- not to mention the Ford phenomenon because I know precisely zip about Toronto municipal politics. But I...
-
Zachary,
Thank you. Exceedingly interesting!
-
Taking The Sting Out Of The HST.
Something can be done at the federal level to make it more palatable in British Columbia, Ontario and other areas of Canada...
-
Zachary,
BC does not look resolved to my mind. I don't expect time to take the wind out of the anti-HST crowd. Far from it. In fact, Campbell can deliberate...
-
A Dream Job If Ever There Was One In Ottawa!
What I wouldn't give to personally get a heads up to take this on -- placing the order on behalf of four politi...
-
Zachary,
Reciprocating in kind, reasonable people can differ about the Liberal strategy (which I wholeheartedly support having been among those who suggeste...
-
Zachary,
All opposition parties have drawn a line in the sand -- two directly and one indirectly. Again, it might be a winning strategy or it might not. I c...
-
Bernie,
I take your point but sometimes voting in favour of your constituents can be a serious danger to national security: two cases -- one very obvious an...
-
Scott Reid is really getting his groove back. If you don't believe me, just check out today's edition of Power and Politics on the CBC.
-
Please Zachary. This post of yours is such a stretch you might want to change your name to giraffe!
-
Zachary,
I had no idea that you're so preoccupied with gas guzzlers...good on you. Finally, progress! Now don't forget to personally go and inspect the two ...
-
Zachary,
Ha! Ha! Ha! There is about as much chance of that as of yours truly becoming pregnant. Enough said.
-
Please stop deliberately trying to be disingenuous Zachary. Bastarache is Charest's problem. You don't see me saying that it's all the federal Conservatives'...
-
You can google it if you want but they were delivered in the second year of the Harper mandate if my recollection is correct. I believe this government order...
-
Zachary,
If you do, say Hi to the Big Man for me!
-
From Big John to Stern Jim.
You know something is up when this Prime Minister decides to road test a new candidate for the messenger of fear...that's right,...
-
Zachary,
Get this straight: the only high road that interests me subject to this conversation is the one that you or I deliberately choose or not choose to ...
-
And how is any of that related to Flaherty's speech? Frankly, you've lost me Zachary.
-
Zachary,
Point taken. It's certainly not the low road but it ain't the high one either. It's sort of in the middle. But that's politics. And notice how I ha...
-
Zachary,
I guess this means that she is running the show -- and that Doug isn't pulling any strings. (At least not yet.) But if the big swan dive is directl...
-
Thank you.
-
Zachary,
Thanks.
-
Zachary,
Allow me to put a little twist on it. I agree that we Liberals have to do well in the byelections. They have to confirm and reinforce Michael's le...
-
Zachary,
I don't agree with a culture wars strategy. I believe in displaying respect for opposing views -- whether we're talking about Candice and the regis...
-
Zachary,
That is not good news for either of us. It means our leaders are about to fall into a trap of THEIR OWN MAKING...Translation: if your assessment is...
-
Zachary,
Michael's personal numbers are not that great...but if he was the wrong choice, we would still be down 10-15 points -- kissing the basement. I thin...
-
Zachary,
Interesting view. And the following is off topic but you might want to go over to Warren's place and give our "friend" Observant a hand. Quite fran...
-
Bernie,
Why do I suddenly want to hum that Captain and Tennille tune???!!!
Wouldn't surprise me if the Conservatives used it as their campaign theme in the...
-
Stephen Harper: The Only Conservative Who Can Put A Smile On Every Liberal Face!!!!
Like nearly all Liberals, you've just got to love this Prime Minister: t...
-
Can't You Just Feel It? That Security Council Seat Is...OURS!
To borrow a phrase from Chrétien, for the life of me, I don't know why some people are running...
-
Zachary,
We Liberals are really lucky -- even privileged to be strongly supported by the gamut of communities living in Canada. Canadians coming from all ba...
-
Zachary,
Quite candidly, I don't see it. Now, if you're talking about Observant's windfall which fell upon Warren's site, I agree with you. We, as Liberals,...
-
Consertative Supporter,
I hate to burst your bubble because you're a pretty good guy but those of us in the East survive on "imported oil". We can thank the...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Is this your way of telling me that you wouldn't accept the post of honorary Chinese counsel in Vancouver???!!! Too bad.
-
Conservative Drone On Language Courses.
Just thought you'd like to know that I plan on signing up for a session or two of Conservative Drone On language cou...
-
Bernie,
I don't like to pit one region's oil against another. We are extremely lucky to have our oil and natural gas resources. I much prefer domestic con...
-
HC in AB,
Long time no see! Welcome back. I understand and respect your POV. I will put it to you this way -- we are in partial agreement: the guy who kil...
-
Bernie,
Let's hope the Canadian people also have THEIR eyes open! A good one.
-
HC in AB,
With respect I don't buy for a second that anti-gun advocates will ever have the power to "go get them". This isn't a police state. Hand and long-...
-
One more thing: Parliament has prohibited a narrow stretch of weapons -- like automatic weapons -- and bullets that pierce armour worn by law enforcement per...
-
policy wonk,
Please put on your glasses. I said no such thing. I also did not endorse dependency on foreign oil sources -- but as you well know, our energy ...
-
policy wonk,
How can you say that? Surely the best case scenario when contemplating such matters is estimates. Those aren't exactly known for their accuracy...
-
policy wonk,
Are you planning to give me another headache? If so, we will have a short conversation.
-
policy wonk,
No kidding -- politicians of any political stripe -- H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E-S.
Well, knock me over with a feather...please.
-
Hi Zachary,
I'm not one to transpose federal results to the provincial level and vice versa. At the margins I would agree that there could be some effect ...
-
Zachary,
My personal view -- I support extended employment insurance benefits. The for how long and for how much are the critical elements in my opinion.
-
Zachary,
I hate stupid polls like this. To my mind it's not either/or. It's oil sands yes, operating in as an environmentally efficient, sensible and sust...
-
Zachary,
Thanks for the clarification. As you can see, I've not followed this one closely. As for the Liberal position, if it has been finalized or not, M...
-
Come on Zachary. That's a stretch. You know that Michael is an oil sands supporter but he like me, is not inclined to give them carte blanche. They must cons...
-
HC in AB,
Agreed. I would add that anyone who thinks alternative energy is the way to go to meet most of our needs is in for a long wait. That probably wo...
-
Zachary,
HC in AB,
Kind of ironic that when the political power was in Central Canada -- Alberta and BC paid the economic freight. Now, political power i...
-
Zachary,
Clearly you can't be both pro and anti-oil sands at the same time. I would submit to you that Michael has not done that. You are free to disagree...
-
Is Stephen Harper Hollywood Bound???
I only raise this in light of recent events -- after all, it's fair to say that this Prime Minister should really put...
-
Zachary,
Interesting times ahead -- at least for one of us! Only the fates know for sure.
-
The Wright Broom?
I'll bet ya these days that more than a few precarious staffers are able to relieve themselves in the PMO without the necessity of laxat...
-
Bernie,
There is a nice tribute on Warren Kinsella's blog.
-
A rather weak retort, Zachary. Sleep on it!
-
Zachary,
If your mud was as good a quality as you claim, we'd still be 15 points behind you. Right? 'Nuff said!!!
-
Zachary,
Yes, it is a throw the bums out mentality. Yes, it finds some of its roots in the U.S. Yes, there is no spillover at the federal level so far. Bu...
-
Zachary,
I would imagine that when you get to one-issue campaigns like the Atlantic Accords or NB Power, you increase the possibility of serious voter bac...
-
Zachary,
It appears to be a change of mind to me too.
-
Zachary,
When you end up practically all over the map -- even if it's an honest mistake -- or any inadvertent one -- you have to make your position clear....
-
Consertative Supporter,
I'll say one thing for you. You're certainly nothing if not colourful!!!
Now, how about addressing my point about long-gun deat...
-
Dear Readers,
Time for some more time off...thanks for your support.
It's a lot of fun exchanging views but eventually you have to recharge your batter...
-
Oops! Forgot Consertative Supporter. My apologies. See you later, too.
-
CanadianBoy,
It's not for nothing that I like Conrad. It shows we went to the same schools (except for McGill)!!! Perhaps, some day.
As for Helena, to my m...
-
CanadianBoy,
Wasn't it those guys who listed Genghis Khan under "Moderate"? Time to keep on our toes what with an election coming sooner rather than later. ...
-
Overdrive,
I wonder if Michael would find it ironic to know that this Prime Minister and his party are the source of his not-so-well-intentioned left-handed...
-
Hi Zachary,
I did...only it was less than a week. Once they removed the pain in my ass, I was fit to come back!!! Glad to see you are still monitoring and h...
-
Dr. Johnston's Welcome To The World Of Politics!
Your Excellency,
Welcome to the town that gives regular hemorrhoids -- which are, more often than not poli...
-
Consertative Supporter,
We can't get rid of the Governor General. As long as we're a constitutional monarchy (and candidly, who would have the guts but the ...
-
Consertative Supporter,
With respect, the problem is Swiss banking regulations -- not individual banks operating in Switzerland. That banking culture has to...
-
There Goes The Harper Government?
Some have suggested in the past that the NDP has absolutely no appetite for an election -- the theory being that the NDP's...
-
Zachary,
Transferability is always difficult to gauge: let me offer two opposing viewpoints: 1. McGuinty is practically in the dumper and it will be diffi...
-
Bernie,
Agreed. But had there been any bribery or influence peddling in relation to Airbus, it would have likely touched a gamut of individuals across bot...
-
Bernie,
I'd suggest that your perception is pretty close to that of the average Canadian. Hence, this Prime Minister's continued inability to generate con...
-
What 1000 Long-Form Census "Complaints" Should Look Like...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 ...
-
X Conservative,
You know how much I love this Prime Minister and his government. Hot damn. My CV is in the mail to the PMO! Wow, two Quebec City AGs in a row.
Optimism still strong but muted (Nanos Economic Monitor, Second Quarter 2010) (2010-07-07)
-
Bernie,
Being the Government of Canada seems to be on track for a becoming a bittersweet experience...this Prime Minister had better pray that the opposit...
-
CPC Senator Richard Neufeld: The Waiting Game.
Now that Senator Neufeld has come out in favour of the present Senate, speculation is mounting as to whethe...
-
Bernie,
That's just fine with me. They're the government and they will have to wear their record. I expect plenty of mileage to come the opposition's way ...
-
All the more reason for us to solidify our links with the so-called independent senators. We can't really hold this Prime Minister to account in the upper ch...
-
Interesting, but I thought you were convinced that Graves was a Liberal apologist and that his numbers were therefore notoriously unreliable. Wasn't that you...
-
Come on Zachary. You're giving me far too much credit. My remarks have precisely zero influence on the party leadership. Notice how I happen not to be in Ott...
-
Zachary,
I don't call them. They already have their hands full. If they want my input, they know where to find me!
-
Zachary,
You know how inherently modest I am. I wouldn't dream of disturbing them.
-
Bernie,
If that's the plan, why do we bother to care? I've never supported that concept and I'm not about to start now. To form government, you have to ea...
-
Bernie,
Thanks for the compliment. If that's the case, then I'm 2 for 2: the Conservatives didn't give a shit what I had to say when I was still a member ...
-
Zachary,
Why does this suddenly remind me of the Churchillian effect. You know how that one goes: first, you win the greatest war ever seen by humankind a...
-
Bernie,
Please don't give this Prime Minister any ideas. Next thing you know we'll see the PM demonstrating his aquatic abilities (without a JetSki) at Harr...
-
Fadden: The Other Shoe Drops.
I don't know about you but I find it incredibly troubling to discover that audio of CSIS Director Richard Fadden's speech on n...
-
Bernie,
I can't stand vague collective assumptions. To my mind, this is precisely what we have here. We've seen it in wartime: loyal Germans, Austro-Hungari...
-
Fellow Liberals,
Please set me straight -- I thought the purpose of our donations was to build up as quickly as possible a political war chest with which to...
-
Dear Readers: THIS WILL NEVER, EVER, HAPPEN AGAIN. Words fail me. I'm completely dumbfounded, floored by this news:
HEADLINE OF THE DAY: CHAREST TO STAY ON ...
-
Zachary,
Please get it right. I did not say there was no media bias against this Conservative government. Of course there is in SOME quarters...but there is...
-
Zachary,
Please don't puff up too much. Remember, Harper was at 36% in the 2006 election...
-
Zachary,
Are you telling me that the tooth fairy provided that audio of Fadden's speech to CTV??? Someone in that precious government has a bigger agenda in...
-
Zachary,
Surely you don't expect me to judge all the "he said-she said". That's for a qualified person heading an inquiry to do. You know where I stand on t...
-
Zachary,
There's a gaping hole in your theory -- your so-called "coalition members" are not exactly enamoured of CTV, to say the very least. Why would "they...
-
Zachary,
Even I'm not suggesting that a parliamentary committee is an impartial examination regardless of which party is in power.
Right now, we have TPS ...
-
Zachary,
Yes, Michael has nuanced his previous positions. But then again, so has this Prime Minister. I might add that I supported both men when they initia...
-
Zachary,
That's why they call it MINORITY government. In theory, a government can be defeated in the House on the very first day that the session resumes. D...
-
Zachary,
I'm not saying all allegations are credible. But I'm also not saying that all allegations made are not credible. They all need to come before an in...
-
LOL.
-
Hey Zachary,
I guess you aren't planning to make my day with a few judicious comments following word having come down from the mountain that Charest is "sta...
-
Zachary,
Well, we part company here as I believe that each allegation has to be examined on the merits by an inquiry. Those that happen not to be founded in...
-
Yours truly is convinced that this revelation made on Mount CBC is the beginning of the end for the Charest government. This man is almost universally dislik...
-
Zachary,
In three years...a long, excruciating wait for many of us.
-
Bernie,
I wonder if this Prime Minister and this Minister will be the ones to finally do something to scrap the Indian Act. I think the Minister has done an...
-
Zachary,
This isn't the only government to muck itself up and human nature being what it is, it won't be the last to go down that same road...somehow, no ma...
-
Zachary,
Always expect the unexpected in politics. A competent prime minister always covers all the bases, ahead of time. This PM is no exception. But human...
-
Zachary,
I know the players more on the "old" team than on the "new" one!!! but Tina Keeper comes immediately to mind. Plus, we could run chiefs from the ...
-
Zachary,
Yes, many of us find our situation worth discussing with the COS...
-
Bernie,
FULL DISCLOSURE: when I was part of the other team, I was prepared to back a Chuck Strahl leadership bid. I made preliminary contact with his offi...
-
Dear Prime Minister,
You know I don't agree with you -- but how's the appeal preparation going?
Remember, the clock is ticking!
-
Zachary,
It's generally been my experience that when inquiring minds want to know, they usually tend to do whatever it takes to find out!
-
Zachary,
Yes we are agreed but this is pure politics Zachary. You remember that. Just think back to the "good" old days when John (Williamson?) was chair ...
-
Zachary,
Again, we've covered this ground before -- a multitude of times and we agreed. But you did say recently that substantive policy would not be enou...
-
Zachary,
Of course I'm always up for it but it's my policy to always get paid in advance for research work, even when the contract potentially comes from ...
-
Zachary,
It wasn't you? My apologies. I must be mixing you up with someone else. I have so many eager correspondents -- for which I'm eternally grateful.
...
-
Zachary,
And here I thought I would finally make it back to Ottawa with you as my generous benefactor. Another, in a long series of illusions destroyed...
-
Zachary,
Hardly a "glowing endorsement" for this Prime Minister: if you go to the tables, you discover that 31% approve of Harper's performance while the ...
-
Zachary,
Point One: That comment is not one I would have used. As far as I'm concerned, it's over the top.
Point Two: Human beings sometimes make serious m...
-
Zachary,
Let's just say that this group has its work cut out for it if it expects to be taken seriously. Right now, from my perspective, they still have ple...
-
Zachary,
You see what government prepares people for...just take this Prime Minister -- his security detail has a backup high-security SUV in tow should it ...
-
Zachary,
One more piece of trivia. In May 2007, our MP invited us up to the Hill for a party event. As a friend and I turned right off Wellington and were a...
-
Zachary,
I may have been classless in the past where this Prime Minister is concerned but I don't do fingers!
-
Zachary,
All I can say is two wrongs don't make a right. Canadians are looking for something better than that. If both parties choose to continue to go do...
-
Zachary,
I liked Michael's message yesterday. That's the way I do politics (most of the time). But I still think he should do the right thing and apologiz...
-
Zachary,
Thanks. Well, either it's rogue -- or Conservatives had better start worrying. Forgive me if I don't embrace the second option too quickly...but ...
-
My apologies Heasmit. Quite obviously, I was a bit too quick off the mark with my response. Please don't be a stranger. Another perspective on events is alwa...
-
Zachary,
I'll bet you dollars to donuts that this Prime Minister is the only policy wonk in Ottawa who could have handled those curve balls. For the recor...
-
Zachary,
Someone is quite deliberately feeding this to Travers and that person hopes to sustain it over a long news cycle. Gee whiz -- who could be doing ...
-
Zachary,
"No Cadillac of helicopters. That's it, Chrétien."
-
Zachary,
To seriously undermine the leader -- or worse yet, to attempt to do what yours truly did as a Conservative in 2005 would send a wide ranging mess...
-
Zachary,
Travers may be nominally Liberal but I would be surprised if he has the best interests of the party at heart. Some other "professional" Liberals ...
-
Zachary,
Remember Zachary, CASH IS KING!
-
Zachary,
My gut tells me that the JSF announcement expected today will be a net minus for this government. The average Canadian has never been that keen o...
-
Zachary,
It has been my experience that when a Conservative sets out to prove a point, he or she tends to make a good job of it.
I rest my case.
-
Zachary,
Yeah but we both know that moving immediately to select the JSF clearly spells trouble for this government. The other U.S. company is already mad...
-
Zachary,
Now that's what I'd call an interesting turn of events.
-
Consertative Supporter,
Michael was cementing Canadian-Chinese relations. Going over there was a master stroke in the name of institutional modernization. W...
-
Come on Consertative Supporter. We need foreign investment in this country. We also need for Canadians to be able to invest abroad with as little state inter...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Then I guess we agree to disagree. Now, to change subjects, what do you think about the pending Uranium One deal (UUU-T)?
-
Michael's Way IS My Way.
Yours truly is calling for Liberal unity. We have much work to do and Michael is the person who can accomplish it. Reading the diff...
-
Consertative Supporter,
I've held it in the past and hold it now. In fact, I'm buying more. I like the optics of the deal. I think it reasonable to suggest ...
-
Here's hoping terrorists don't resort to the deadliest weapon known to humankind, namely blowing bubbles at protests...seesh.
-
Zachary,
Mere smoke and mirrors Zachary. You know that. Let watch the polls together. One of us is bound to have some pleasure watching the other in fits! A...
-
Sorry Zachary. CTV reported that she was later arrested on a matter not related to the bubbles. Yours is a very vivid imagination, Zachary. Get real. I'd lik...
-
Perhaps. But you know we both have groundwork to lay in preparation. Ours is a constant struggle toward eventual electoral success. We share a common labour ...
-
Zachary,
No person who hopes to maintain a shred of credibility for their cause would likely follow such a course of action.
-
Zachary,
Crops grow at varying rates, it seems!
As for so-called dissident Liberals, they had better watch out. A flung boomerang always returns to the sou...
-
Zachary,
We will see what can be proved in front of the courts.
-
Zachary,
With unity, victory is possible. Without...
Just look to my own experience as a Conservative. We took our shot in 2005 and to suggest the blowback...
-
Zachary,
One cannot adjudicate on criminal charges before an inquiry, as we both know. That has to go before the courts. But it's ironic that this entire ma...
-
Zachary,
Yes, but at some point people have to come into line either voluntarily or otherwise. The leader has no choice but to play hardball if he is to mai...
-
Zachary,
What is economically responsible is often politically irresponsible, as our first economist knows all too well and can readily confirm!!!
-
Yes, generally speaking, the terms of reference of an inquiry (not to mention a parliamentary committee) usually exclude contamination otherwise everyone wou...
-
Zachary,
You use the term "fix". I prefer "reprioritize"!
-
Zachary,
Strongly in agreement for sure. We both would argue that these two provinces are the battleground that will ultimately decide the war. All parties ...
-
Zachary,
I have to be careful here because I have no particular expertise in procedural issues but yes, I think you are on the right track.
-
Zachary,
I too shall call it a night. Let me end with this: think of it as positive reinforcement for temporarily "wayward" Liberals (wink!)
Nighty, night.
-
Zachary,
Oh boy. Criminal defense is certainly not my area but I would counter with the following: crown prosecutors are not idiots. They know they have to ...
-
Zachary,
You've certainly been busy, I'll give you that! To begin, another area where I have no expertise regarding the provisions of the Lobbyist Act, the ...
-
Zachary,
You know as a lawyer, all I can say in that the presumption of innocence applies. We will see how Michael deals with this in a political context bu...
-
Zachary,
Mr. Boudria is a registered lobbyist and as such is entitled to lobby. Mr. Jaffer is not registered as far as I know and thus is not entitled to ...
-
Zachary,
Are you sure you weren't a copy editor in a previous incarnation!? You sure seem to have it down pat...and no, I never said there was no bad opti...
-
Oh and Zachary, do you think I should call the PMO to get the exact date when Stephen Harper's complete contributor list is going to be released for each of ...
-
Zachary,
Let me put it this way, the course chosen was perhaps not the best one given the possible options.
"" Mr. Boudria is a registered lobbyist and...
-
Zachary,
If you happen to frequent Warren Kinsella's site, you will already know that I am very much PRO lifejackets -- especially in politics!
See you.
-
Zachary,
I do when it's to my advantage! That's what I call real charity work.
-
Zachary,
At least we have one moral certainty coming out of this: we can count on Conservatives to be on the losing side of the polling on this issue!!!!!...
-
Zachary,
This government and this Minister and her officials should be commended for the way they handled this crisis. I'm not often proud of this governm...
-
Zachary,
Our poor Prime Minister. It must be exceedingly uncomfortable crouched up against that polling glass ceiling. He's been trying since 2006 but he ...
-
Zachary,
Now for a backhanded compliment! Even THIS government occasionally gets something right...
-
Come on Zachary. Glass ceilings do cut both ways and neither is favourable for either of us or our respective parties. At least I can admit that. But we stil...
-
ROFL. But Zachary, there is no coalition. Michael said so. Remember?
-
Zachary,
Fair enough. But I was in the room in Quebec City when he explicitly ruled it out pre-election. I call that progress!
-
Zachary,
Now you see why we are both political geniuses...having been against the idea of a coalition, formal or otherwise from the very start!
-
Zachary,
And I said our crown prosecutors were not idiots. Yes, I did in fact say that...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Why bother. We all know scrapping the mandatory nature of the Long Form is the Prime Minister's doing. Tony is merely the front pe...
-
Zachary,
You won't convert me on this one. I favour the mandatory Long Form for accurate statistical purposes.
-
Zachary,
I'm surprised you are giving up so easily. Usually this Prime Minister likes nothing better than to get the opposing parties by the short and cur...
-
Zachary,
I guess that depends on who gets to wear the role of the Liberal-Democrats. I don't think the NDP will be as keen, in some circles, going forward...
-
Zachary,
Thanks very much. I don't know Zachary -- but you know me and my gut, alias tea leaves!!!!
-Liberals get to watch: Agreed, the Clegg body lang...
-
Zachary,
See even Chrétien has seen the light. Kinsella must also be reconsidering -- or at least I hope he is.
-
Consertative Supporter,
I guess mellowing is out of the question!?
-
Zachary,
I'll bet you can't pull this one off and totally divorce yourself from the polling to react to this little gem.
Plainly stated Zachary, this P...
-
Zachary,
Now if it really goes in the dumper, Clegg can pull out his secret weapon (but preferably not in public, in case envy should suddenly strike) -- ...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Well, if memory serves Trudeau was the first to formalize it with a ministry but I think Pearson is the founding father, so to spe...
-
Consertative Supporter,
That question is above my pay grade. Haven't the foggiest but I will say that Meighen and Bennett kept granddad gainfully employed...
-
Zachary,
Interesting analysis.
-
Zachary,
Perhaps, but yours truly is into decomplication -- that's why my top priority is getting Quebec's signature on the constitution. As Monte Hall wo...
-
Zachary,
Thanks. You of all people know what a strange hybrid I am: strong decentralist (not just for Quebec but all the other provinces and territories) ...
-
Big yawn Zachary...this Prime Minister can't get an elected Senate past seven of ten provinces. In other words, Canadians may wish that the moon was made of ...
-
Zachary,
Thank you, impartial oracle of economic prognostication! So quite naturally, you no doubt expect a big bump up for Conservatives in upcoming polls ...
-
Zachary,
You deal, you get. Otherwise, to use one of your expressions: "Not so much."
-
Zachary,
You might call it testy -- I prefer dubious. In any event Zachary, I will agree with your argument right after this Prime Minister has proved it by...
-
Zachary,
Translation: absolutely no progress ahead on provincial election of senators. You know it and I know it...
-
Zachary,
You sure don't know me very well after all this time. If this Prime Minister beats us fair and square, I will not only admit that I was wrong in th...
-
Zachary,
There are no shortage of idiots in Canada. They can be found in every party. And strangely enough, they can also be found in considerable numbers o...
-
Playing Out The Clock, Conservative Style.
Don't you love Canadian politics? All that coasting. All that dilly dallying on when to act. All that looking at ...
-
Zachary,
Ours is truly a thankless task. But what can you do. At least a government hangs in the balance. I'm not sporting enough to genuinely wish you GOOD...
-
Zachary,
Come on Zachary. Finance was projecting achieving balance in four or five years. Perhaps three is reasonable with increased revenue but that's ab...
-
Zachary,
Mr. Justice Pierre Blais, if I'm not mistaken. How the judiciary is retiscent to intrude on the decision making powers of the executive.
-
Zachary,
When I was a Conservative and now as a Liberal, I worked with what I had...
-
Zachary,
You are nothing if not always thoughtful!
-
Zachary,
Maybe so but you know my positions differ from that of this government on a host of issues. That was even true then. Remember Zachary, I voted agai...
-
Impotent Folly, Act 1000.
There's a really good reason why resorting to economic sanctions is a waste of time. It has something to do with the fact that the...
-
Zachary,
Better late than never!
1) Yup;
2) As a cities base yes, but Liberal support can grow there is an effective campaign;
3) Yes but "cross over" re...
-
Zachary,
I'm especially interested in getting your take on this. After all, we don't get to discuss fundamental geo-political issues too often, do we.
-
Harper: From Long Form Census To NHL Draft???
You know, you have to hand it to this Prime Minister. There's a real good reason why the PM should hang it up ...
-
And You Thought Being Prime Minister Wasn't A Fun Job.
The mind boggles as one attempts to make sense of the civil war raging in the RCMP. Who knows wheth...
-
Zachary,
Enlightening response. Just a few remarks: in not too diplomatic language: -- Bibi is fucked. This isn't the good old days when Israel could teac...
-
Zachary,
Agreed unless we go from low boil to raging boil over many weeks. In that case, Elliott may suddenly find himself joining Hayward...
-
Zachary,
So we can go the National Archives together in thirty years. I've already done research there when I was at Carleton. It will be an enlighening v...
-
Zachary,
My recollection is that the bombs deliberately targeted a tent out in the desert and ended up killing Khadafy's adopted daughter. I'm almost 100%...
-
Zachary,
When Elliott came in it was to repair a dysfunctional RCMP. And what do we see today -- wait for it -- a dysfunctional RCMP. I'm not prepared to bl...
-
Zachary,
This Prime Minister is a majority government believer. He knows the odds only turn seriously in his favour if he can hang on until 2012 when the ne...
-
Zachary,
The truth does not favour this Prime Minister -- but it doesn't work against him either. The whole thing comes out as a wash for the PM. Sure, he...
-
Its Over 4 Harper!,
With both parties hugging the basement, I agree with you that it's now or never for Michael. He really needs to get all his ducks in a...
-
Heasmit,
Please call me Ron. (I'm also known as that SOB but that is somewhat restricted to a few quarters in the PMO, but I digress!!!)
This being a d...
-
Zachary,
The article talks about balance in 2015 rather than 2016. Now if we were talking 2011, that would be an instant bonanza favouring Conservatives B...
-
Zachary,
Like Wow! What a trailblazer! Perhaps he'll also go the whole hog and actually proffer a few suggestions. On par with the creation of the univers...
-
Zachary,
In any event, let's get down to brass tacks. We'll have our program, you'll have yours. All these side issues won't amount to diddly during the c...
-
Zachary,
How can I be more categorical: I won't return even if personally approached by the Lord, the Virgin Mary and Jesus. Forget it. It ain't happening...
-
Zachary,
Warren is a party man through and through. When the chips are down and even when they're not, he can always be counted on during a campaign.
P...
-
Zachary,
You sure seem fixated on Michael's tour. It still has a month to go as the leader connects with Canadians across this fine country of ours. Good on...
-
Zachary,
FULL DISCLOSURE: You're a kind soul Zachary not mentioning my previous incident. For readers not in the know, I got severely burned on this file a ...
-
Zachary,
I'm all for addressing the serious preoccupations of rural Canada. We owe everything to farmers -- without them, quite simply, the rest of us are d...
-
Going Lower Than Anyone Has Gone Before...
Once again, a new high in low in Canadian politics. Out comes the tag line "he or she looks like" [fill in the bl...
-
Zachary,
Boy, the PMO is really doing its part -- 20 new staffers and one million over last year's budget. Just tell the unemployed take out a Conservativ...
-
A Rational View,
I know at least one of those new staffers. Maybe the PMO will spring for lunch next time he's in town -- but somehow I doubt it.
-
Dear Prime Minister,
Some of us don't need money as an incentive!
-
Heasmit,
In politics what one gives is generally what one gets. Why are you surprised? Just ask Dion and Ignatieff how the party opposite has not personal...
-
We are as one on this Heather. Some strategists in both parties believe this approach does more good than harm in firming up numbers. I happen to think the o...
-
We too are as one on this Zachary.
-
Zachary,
I'm rather surprised that a poster of your experience would come out and make such a baseless charge. Quite obviously, you won't be able to prove i...
-
Tara_Prentice,
Even Tom Flanagan said on P & P that Stock didn't exactly hit this one right out of the park.
There is no doubt that there are unreported cr...
-
Proud Canadian,
I want this Prime Minister to stay right where he is. The PM is a known quantity and that works for us. This gentleman has an uncanny abil...
-
Zachary,
You know what they say about lies, damned lies and statistics...
I think the criminologists should weigh in on this one. Otherwise, it remains...
-
Hi Jack,
Nice to see that you are still at it. Nothing quite like a guy who does a job well.
-
Zachary,
I don't condone Namesake's reply strategy but the same can be said of things like this: lying Liberals, how typical of a Liberal, Liberals are en...
-
Zachary,
Continuing in the same vein, quite frankly, I would suspect that that would apply to all our federal political parties. Wishful thinking is a lar...
-
Zachary,
This Prime Minister knows that a COS has to perform exceptionally to win. Thus far, his latest one has not -- neither has ours. Draw your own con...
-
Zachary,
I CHOOSE to use the high road. I did not say THEY did.
And if you need it, here's a life lesson: I happen to know better than to post over at...
-
Zachary,
All of that is M-E-A-N-I-N-G-L-E-S-S unless we are in an actual campaign. Remember Zachary, it took Chrétien three years to reach the summit -- b...
-
Zachary,
Here you go. You will need a strong stomach:
http://www.freedominion.com.pa
-
Zachary,
Fair enough, but that can be said of any of the leaders.
-
But Zachary, Trudeau, Mulroney and Chrétien have at least two majorities each. This Prime Minister? Not so much!
-
Zachary,
Not necessarily post but I thought you might be curious as to what the hard right is up to these days. I have no idea if someone is posting over ...
-
Zachary,
Ideas followed by policy. That's what makes majority governments. Never say never -- no matter how remote the possibility may appear at this junc...
-
Zachary,
This land mine will be self-inflicted. Wait and watch. Coming to a political theatre near you. Soon.
-
Canadian Patriot,
Now let's see if I've got this straight: the Canadian economy has come out of the recession faster than any other industrialized democra...
-
Canada First,
People thought I was nuts when I argued that this Prime Minister is the best tactical friend a Liberal ever had. Sooner, or later, he can a...
-
British Petro,
Why the attitude? After all, Canadian Patriot is only capping the Conservative well!!!
-
You amuse me sometimes Zachary. For you to stubbornly refuse to realize that I've found another major chink in this Prime Minister's armour (which you find p...
-
Architect1,
With all due respect, I came from that party. If this Prime Minister goes down, he will not act against type -- put another way: he is an incred...
-
QUESTION OF THE DAY!
I don't know about you but I'm anxiously waiting to see whether James finally gets what he deserves. Many of us think he's earned it....
-
Looks like I'm in for an interesting day. Suddenly under intense malware bombardment.
I guess the juveniles (not quite men and it shows) have taken over ...
-
A Public Service Message.
Mastering a new cabinet portfolio is never easy. You really need to focus exclusively -- like a laser beam. Just ask John Baird...
-
Zachary,
That's what makes Liberals such fun. We are eternally optimistic. One poll does not a trend make -- as you rightly said but the best is yet to co...
-
I wonder if Warren Kinsella joins me in the following refrain? I will let Sally Field speak for yours truly:
""You like me; you really like me"
Quite ...
-
S-M-I-L-E!
Things are moving as expected - just swimmingly.
It's going to be a great weekend. Sometimes, events really do fall into place according to plan...
-
Long time no see Donald Bruce. I guess you will be pinch hitting for Zachary while he's away!
May the joust continue!
-
Donald Bruce,
This Prime Minister can handle it. He's a big boy. The PM takes 'em as well as he throws 'em. The long, winding road of rough and tough contin...
-
Hey Hollinm,
As the most perceptive (not to mention frank) of Conservatives on this board, how about your assessment of cinema vérité...can't you just feel ...
-
Save the Census,
This Prime Minister does not have much in common with Mulroney but he does share this: both men became very polarizing figures -- loved in ...
-
Donald Bruce,
Absolutely, it's always a wonder to behold -- especially in committee where he seemed to be getting along exceptionally well with Madam Chair....
-
Donald Bruce,
Parliament Hill: the only place in Ottawa where angels fear to tread. But at least birthday parties are a blast. There are always a multitude ...
-
Yes Donald Bruce, Liberals and other parties are equally as guilty as Conservatives. Yes, on reflection, I should have included Manning, Day and even this Pr...
-
Again Donald, Canadians don't seem to like when politics goes down that road but EVERYONE from ALL THE PARTIES has chosen to deliberately go there.
It's rat...
-
Come on Donald. It's he said-she said and you know it. Canadians do not trust the slant of either of us. We claim to be in the right -- and so do you. Either...
-
Donald,
Spectacle eventually brings results. Just review the performance of the previous incarnation. It was very effective. No one knows that more acutely ...
-
You bet. Guess he won't be biting after all!
-
Donald,
Nice try -- on my part though.
-
Does This Prime Minister Do Requests???
One of things I most admire about this Prime Minister is his ability to play pretty decent piano. He seems to be at ...
-
The Long Contemplative Walk To The Polls...
Hi, my name is John and Jane voter. It's starting to seriously look like we'll be headed to the polls this fall....
-
Donald Bruce,
Remember in 2005 when yours truly found the leader wanting. And look what happened one short year later!
-
Donald Bruce,
Thank you. Running behind in my work but you'll be hearing from me again tonight as I go through the remaining seven posts.
-
Donald Bruce,
Eliott has made noteworthy reforms. But the issue is no longer reforming a badly broken force. It has become a fight over the Commissioner him...
-
Hi Pot!
What's that? Calling the kettle black, again! Interesting -- but ineffective strategic choice.
-
Donald,
Like yours truly, to pat oneself on the back (how déclassé but what the hell!), Warren is rather good at what he does. I expect to see him out there...
-
Donald Bruce,
Internet extermination would normally work both ways. Trouble is, neither side is ever completely successful...
-
Donald Bruce,
[What did you expect, that i would do anything less than you would and I have read the "book"]
Does it really work as well as Sominex!!!!!!!!...
-
Donald Bruce,
I'm going to let this one pass because of my overall position on the government's H1N1 response. I consider it a success that should be commen...
-
Now That's What I Would Call I-R-O-N-Y!
Conservatives on this board have practically puked on themselves ridiculing Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff's cro...
-
Donald Bruce,
You guys are sure mightily interested in one gentleman's opinion. Makes me think that some panic has set in in Conservative ranks. Rather in...
-
Donald Bruce,
Everyone in the party knows where Michael stands. His views reflect that of caucus and the party. If that changes, we'll all hear about it f...
-
Donald Bruce,
That must be why they don't pay me the big bucks.
-
Donald Bruce,
Jean-Marc Fournier will be heading back into cabinet!
-
Donald Bruce,
We live in a wonderful, free country -- perhaps the best in the world!
It's nice to know that yours truly, yourself, along with my many n...
-
Donald Bruce,
Agreed -- in a non-partisan fashion.
-
Donald Bruce,
Let me put it this way -- I know which approach to political discourse is the right one for me.
-
Don't Worry, I FEEL Your Pain!
To Whom It May Concern,
The future looks bleak, I know. But hey, you're really wasting your time sending me those Seven ...
-
Taco,
Far be it for me to criticize the regulars but I will say that no act of intimidation will prevent me from expressing my views. All of us seem to ha...
-
Donald Bruce,
I'll go out on a limb here and say it's safe to suggest that we can mark you down as "Undecided" about supporting Ignatieff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...
-
Michael,
Go baby, go!
-
Taco,
I shouldn't toot my own horn but remember Taco, I've been talking about a Harper glass ceiling since the last election. Nice indeed to finally be pr...
-
Fellow Liberals,
Has the COS finally come around to our way of thinking?
I don't know about you but something tells me that he probably has...
-
Taco,
We both know that Donald is just getting warmed up...he'll be taking us on again shortly. (We can take that one to the bank!)
-
Donald Bruce,
If you haven't figured it out -- yet -- somehow I doubt this Prime Minister has either.
Please permit me to continue to savour that irref...
-
Taco,
Sorry, was out of the office.
-
Well Said, Jim Travers!
I'm with Travers. I hope the rest of you are as well. The following part of his piece is a brilliant gem in an otherwise exceedingly...
-
September 20, 2010.
September 20th has been a special day in my heart for quite a number of years. This year it will take on an even more meaningful quality...
-
Donald Bruce,
Yeah, right! That's why this Prime Minister prorogued -- not once but twice!!!
He was only looking after the best interests of Canadians. No ...
-
Donald Bruce,
I too would like to see representatives from all parties make amends, as needed. That would be the decent thing to do -- so would allowing her...
-
Donald Bruce,
With respect, you sure as hell are out on one shaky limb. But hey, that's your choice. I'd say you share that with the PM -- not budging is no...
-
If we're getting formal, yes, Mr. Smith, prorogation is like a cheap suit -- whether worn by Liberals or Conservatives.
Sure, Liberals did it first. Sure, ...
-
Donald Bruce,
People have time for this Finance Minister. We can quibble about the wisdom of his approach while at Queen's Park (c'est discutable, as we say...
-
I Heart Canada,
I'd say it's pretty much game, set and match for YOU. Congratulations!
I wouldn't want to be Flanagan when "the call" comes sizzling in. It...
-
We'll soon see!
-
Donald Bruce,
All for one -- and one for all. You forgot the CPC MP whose name escapes me at the moment. Don't feel like googling it. Care to refresh my mem...
-
Donald Bruce,
It was pin the shaft on the donkey time. Ottawa did it with glee to the provinces and territories. They in turn were more than happy to rear e...
-
I suppose I have to google it now...
-
Donald Bruce,
From The Star:
OTTAWA—A Conservative MP is using a parliamentary website, telephone number and email account to promote a weekend spaghetti d...
-
Donald Bruce,
You're slipping. You walked right into this one. Ha, ha.
Edmonton Journal: (Written by Susan Riley, Ottawa Citizen)
According to media repor...
-
Donald Bruce,
In that context, it's far from match unless this Prime Minister gets his majority. We both know that. Why pretend otherwise?
-
Donald Bruce,
I thought you were the guy who said we had to respect how the people voted. Doesn't seem so, just about now...
-
Donald Bruce,
Let me get this straight. Max is advising this Prime Minister on census policy?
Now, if that just doesn't take the cake!
-
Donald Bruce,
You know what a big heart I've got so accordingly, I will give the paper the benefit of the doubt. I'm looking forward to Brown (or any other ...
-
Donald Bruce,
That's certainly one man's opinion.
-
BC Bob,
Taco can get his apology through the voters by doing all he or she can to beat the shit out of this gang in the next election -- hopefully, sooner r...
-
Donald Bruce,
Of course Harper isn't a failure. HE is a twice indirectly-elected prime minister. But it can't be game, set and MATCH until he gets a MAJORIT...
-
Donald Bruce,
Come again? You've just lost me.
-
Donald Bruce,
But the real question is, how many still share your view? Think descending!
-
Donald,
I find it somewhat amusing to see you vainly trying to paint this government as lily-white when that is quite obviously, not the case.
Past Liberal...
-
Donald,
Are you -- and I actually hope you're not -- seriously suggesting that this Prime Minister can get any further mileage from Sponsorship?
That is ol...
-
BC Bob,
I was way, way, way out in front on this issue when even my own party did not get it (much less my former party!) and that's why I'm so confident th...
-
Stimulus Withdrawal: Coming To An Economy Not Yet Out Of The Woods.
This Prime Minister is hell bent on bringing an end to economic stimulus. OK, but perhap...
-
Donald Bruce,
Way, way, way, ahead means precisely that. It means Liberals were at best lukewarm while Conservatives were silent -- which comes to the sam...
-
BC Bob,
Too bad this Prime Minister doesn't have as sharp a political antenna as Gentleman Jim...damned shame!
-
Mr. Smith,
Nice dodge. Now how about addressing the point. You know perfectly well that Jim told them to flush it when the mentally challenged came to him...
-
Come on Donald. Who happens to be arguing that you are not six percent ahead -- at least in some polls. Not me. Irrelevant point.
-
Donald,
Thanks for the clarification. Bart gets on my nerves...
As for your approach to politics, glad to see that we do likewise.
-
This is not meant for anyone on this board but is an open message to the cowards who delight in sending me viruses, trojans and other assorted goodies on a r...
-
Donald Bruce,
Interesting that the government has come to that conclusion. Not the way I would play it!
-
Donald Bruce,
You could make the foreign service with that last paragraph!
We will need someone with an expertise in constitutional law to weigh in her...
-
Donald Bruce,
You know I speak only for myself. I do not work for the OLO, an MP, a Senator, or the party. Just so we're clear here.
-
Mr. Smith,
Mr. Wright needs to get something straight -- I'm not for coasting all the way to 2011. That means only one thing: increasing the odds to 50-50...
-
Donald Bruce,
Same to you. Meanwhile, you can count on me to do my utmost to help this Prime Minister retire. A return to Calgary would do him a world of ...
-
Maple Leaf fan,
OUR VOTE OF THANKS DOES NOT COME WITH CASH...
-
Donald Bruce,
Stop passing the buck. This is Blackburn's mess to clean up regardless of how longstanding the alleged obstruction has been taking place. Yo...
-
Mr. Smith,
Your statement does not cut ice with me -- nor will it with any Canadian who happens not to be a rabid partisan...
-
Wally P,
Hopefully O'Connor will be a little more forthright.
-
Don't you get it Mr. Smith? IF this needs cleaning up, then for God's sake get to it! This government claims to be so good at doing what's right -- so hop to...
-
And another thing: if things are as bad as reported, what's Walt waiting for to take the bull by the horns. Perhaps the CDS needs to take a few lessons from ...
-
Donald,
It usually takes a lot more heat than this to get to you. You're not going soft, are you?
Remember what Truman said about the kitchen...
-
Donald,
Like time I checked PCO was considered the prime minister's department...and strange as it may seem, Stock was mandated to hold sway over at Treas...
-
Donald,
In this case, the road to hell was paved by ALL the parties. Too bad that but the atmosphere has been so poisoned, most people aren't even able (o...
-
Donald,
I find Questions One thru Four to be fair points. Question Five is a tad too cynical for me. I doubt a military man would behave in this fashion.
...
-
Again, your point is logical -- up until it became public knowledge. That changes the dynamic quite a bit. Surely the government can move forward on this now...
-
That's an interesting point but it has nothing whatsoever to do with this crisis.
Again, is the government only interested in the "Blame-Game" and tarring...
-
How true...
-
We are on the same wavelength! We won't even tackle "small" men driving excessively large SUVs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
See you. Supper is beckoning...somewhere.
-
Donald,
Don't get me wrong. I'm no angel. Hardly, I look to use every (and I mean every) issue I can find to defeat the government. But there comes a time w...
-
The Dream Team?
-Libby Davies;
-Rob Nicholson;
-Dominic Leblanc;
-Serge Ménard.
If there's a common will, there's a way!
-
Oh Look!
There's the Prime Minister in Mississauga -- wearing MY glasses!!!!
Perhaps it will make him look as sympathetic as I do. You never know.
-
Donald,
Well, your non-partisan streak didn't last very long, did it.
Back to games as usual. OK. So be it...
-
For The Prime Minister To Raise This Now...
She must be in some trouble at home. Julia Gillard says the Queen should be the last Australian monarch. I sti...
-
Donald,
This is a losing issue for Conservatives. They can get the Almighty to testify in favour of their position and it won't make a hill of beans of a ...
-
Donald,
This is an Australian-specific post. Have a nice lunch.
-
Donald Bruce,
Just too rich -- you guys only added the language questions to the mandatory short form because you are up to your collective asses in a min...
-
Donald,
The day you really hit a nerve, I'll be sure to let you know. No one has been able to do it since they called me a traitor.
-
Sorry Conservatives, he could have been given a special mandate to continue to deal with the registry while on French language training but no, this Prime Mi...
-
Donald,
Uh huh. Is there a point in bringing up this ancient history now that the deed is done? Must be a really slow day, eh?
-
Donald,
You're half right. You didn't this time...but I had forgotten about that one.
By the way, the only one who punches above my weight class is God...
-
Donald,
Is this your way of telling us that the government is foresaking any whipped votes on all government business in the future? Wait. Oh yeah, I didn...
-
Donald,
What? And ruin all the fun! Geez, I'd much rather watch Elliott try to freeskate his way around it when the press catches up to him.
-
Donald,
Original isn't your strong suit today, is it.
-
Agreed.
-
Donald,
You're losing on points. Just look at the optics. A take-no-prisoners-prime-minister is somehow disturbed by a take-no-nonsense ombudsman. The guy...
-
Donald,
It's the one that breaks the most glass in the other guy's house that will win the election.
-
That's crap. He's a better Canadian than either of us.
-
Donald,
I'm all for putting it to the test this fall!
-
Donald,
Every citizen makes a contribution, and a worthy one at that, but nothing equals public service in the interest of the nation. By our respective o...
-
Why Canada Needs An Election.
Voters are not likely to get seriously riled up unless you give them an incentive to do anything other than park their votes...
-
Donald,
I know you're busy -- and because I'm such a great guy, I'll correct the typo in your last sentence:
"With all the garbage and smears that the ...
-
Donald,
I'm pleased to see a settlement. However, I'm not sure that this is dead given the manner in which the settlement was reached.
-
Donald,
In all fairness, I think Canadians should be afforded the opportunity to read the statement before reaching any conclusions as to Malhi's views on t...
-
Donald,
I like to have a good hot chocolate with whipped cream when listening to CBC.
Sweet music to my ears, listening to the Mother Corp...
-
Donald,
Admit it. Most police officers killed in the line of duty whether working for a federal, provincial, municipal or other force or service are murdere...
-
Donald,
Nice one.
-
Donald,
I will find it for you since I've previously posted it on Warren's site some time back.
-
Donald,
You won't see me crying! I favoured whipping the vote last time both for the Liberal and NDP caucus. Our job is to screw over this government and ...
-
Donald,
Agreed. In any event, I believe my information was from guncontrol.ca. Can't find it in Warren's archives. In short, it listed each officer/consta...
-
Donald,
It's a consideration for sure -- but look at all the "anti-Chongs" in the Conservative Party who voted for les québécois sont une nation when they...
-
Donald,
Thank you. Perhaps tonight. But I happen to be at least as stubborn, if not more so than my fellow Taurus!...
-
Then you won't be afraid to run with it as soon as we sink this government!
-
No wonder you are such a worthy opponent. Ours could be a conflict to the death, if either of us was stupid enough to let it get that far.
We'd both be up...
-
Donald,
Reminds me of what the Klingon warrior told Kirk:
"But Captain, it would have been glorious!"
-
Donald,
I think I should bring that last point of yours up with Helena!!!!!!
-
That was one stupid Fox...
For the record, was forced to take care of one very deserving Scorpio in the past but it was hardly a cake-walk. Don't plan on ...
-
Donald,
Sometimes you need a new ride. Other times, you happen to know "just enough" for it to be prudent that you get back on board...
-
Donald,
Elliott and the PMO have chosen to dig all the way to China. Who am I not to egg them on!
-
Donald,
The fun is in the looking! But, not necessarily "finding".
-
Donald,
My line must have been busy. Pity I don't have call waiting.
P.S. Susan Smith should have been there -- to name just one fine female strategist.
-
Donald,
Other than home-made, I tend to gravitate to Krispy Kreme. No one knows it better than my belt!
-
Donald,
With any luck, your arteries are in better shape than mine.
-
Donald,
LOL.
-
Now Donald, we have to be careful here. You have to remember that during his interrogation sessions by CSIS, a crying 14 year old Khadr displayed his bruises...
-
Donald,
No question Conservatives remain in the lead (as in most other polls) but their support is soft. Our job as Liberals is to put the finishing touches...
-
Donald,
My reaction? The following: which is it, or is it both?
Commissioner William Elliott is suggesting that then Superintendent Marty Cheliak had only ...
-
Donald,
The sovereignty aspect likes some oomph...remember that the alleged incident happened not on U.S. soil, but in a foreign war theatre, namely Afghani...
-
Donald,
To my mind, this is PR 101. All you need to do is find Waldo! You get Marty Cheliak before the press and he can detail it. Quite obviously, with his...
-
Donald,
With respect, he isn't in the U.S. He's on Cuban soil where an American military base has existed since roughly 1900. The Cubans aren't exactly thri...
-
Donald,
Come on. He (Cheliak) works in a top-down administrative structure. Official protocol requires permission from the Commissioner -- who himself would...
-
Think of it Donald. A Canadian citizen is not entitled to the same level of rights as a U.S. citizen would have on U.S. soil. Point One. Point two: no U.S. c...
-
Let me rephrase, to be more accurate. The Commissioner can't make such an explosive decision to let Cheliak speak without first at least informing his politi...
-
Why thank you for the compliment. I try to be a good Liberal!
-
Donald,
This has nothing to do with you strictly speaking, but it's a lot more fun working systematically to take down a government legally than trying to ...
-
Donald,
Will keep an eye on our discussion but am engrossed in reading Carl's take over at Threehundredeight.com. My how Éric does outstanding work there. I...
-
Donald,
Morden strikes me as solid in terms of credibility. I expect plenty of diplomatic language and subtle nuances but I would also expect that the gener...
-
Donald,
Yes, I've left quite a large quantity of expended hot air over there as is my general habit!
See you.
-
First, The United Kingdom. Now, Apparently Australia. Implications For Canada?
The Herald Sun is reporting that coalition government is the most likely scen...
-
Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
Three would-be kingmakers in the new Federal Parliament will soon meet to consider their position as Australia faces da...
-
Donald,
Of course it's coalition talk. I'm against coalition dealing until we see election results. But if I was the big kahuna, I would start worrying...NO...
-
The Independent (U.K.):
Australia faces an almost unprecedented period of political uncertainty, after the tightest election in decades failed to produce a ...
-
PEI Challenger Blues.
Some days, it's hard to pull yourself out of bed and get up and going. If your name is Stephen Harper, today must have been one of tho...
-
Donald,
Women always know best. All the best to both on you on this special day. And in keeping with the spirit of the day, I will give you advance notice t...
-
Looking Down Those Artic Nooks...
As a Canadian, I'm proud to see any prime minister giving the North the attention it so richly deserves. Prime Minister St...
-
Donald,
A lobotomy produces results too -- just not useful or practical ones...
Bring on the election. Please.
-
Oink, Oink.
Frankly, I can't improve on this. Suffice it to say that Conservatives can, on occasion, practice patronage restraint. After all, the PMO was ...
-
Dancing Ain't My Thing But...
I have to confess that I won't be outdancing Madonna anytime soon -- but after seeing this Prime Minister cutting a rug up N...
-
WHAT THE HELL ARE WE WAITING FOR???
Talk about time to get on the stick! When we see arrests taking place again in relation to alleged terrorist offenses, w...
-
Donald,
Tireless work is our calling card. You can count on us to keep at it. Only the timid are intimidated before change appears on the horizon. Slow and ...
-
Jeffrey Simpson Has Nailed It In The Globe and Mail:
To wit:
"The virtue of lifers is the gaining of wisdom and experience. They learn not only how governm...
-
This Piece Is Incredibly Devastating For Julia Gillard.
From: The Sydney Morning Herald
"After a near-death experience, rebirth is the only way forward fo...
-
Sky News Australia:
"Wilkie lays down the law to Gillard
Updated: 06:06, Sunday August 29, 2010
Julia Gillard's marked the first week of a hung parliament...
-
Jack - High Time To Follow The Liberal Lead...And Defeat C-391.
September 22nd will be a true test of leadership. That's when the third-reading vote will ta...
-
Why Obama Should Be Smiling!
I don't know about you but yours truly is thrilled at contemplating the eventual re-election of U.S. President Barack Obama. As...
-
Bernie,
Rove was suddenly considered a has-been as soon as Bush left office. It would be rather funny if he managed to work himself back into a White Hous...
-
Donald,
I never doubted it for a moment considering that you did not go joyriding on that ATV...
But as you know, we plan on winning the next election outr...
-
Jack, Let's Talk Stephen Harper!
You know Jack, I take my hat off to you. You're a guy interested in actual compromise on the long-gun registry. Yours is an...
-
Hey Donald,
Are you burned out? Or has your wife relegated you to the wood-shed???
You really should get back. An election is coming, you know!
-
They Sure Must Have Strong Backs In Winnipeg...
Must come from doing all that bending over -- whenever a Conservative government happens to take power...c...
-
Meet The New King Of Negative!
I don't want to prematurely spoil your fun so go on over to the CBC website and check out the negative ratings for the part...
-
Zorro,
I can't wait to rumble. Now, if only Jack can find his fortitude on the long-gun registry...
-
Happy Camper,
No kidding. That means HMCS Harper's course is already dead set for the iceberg.
-
Abortion: Back Tracking Furiously Can Mean Only One Thing...
It means the Harper government was taking one hell of a hit on the Maternal and Child Health In...
-
Bernie,
I take your point. I look forward to Minister Oda's reiteration of government policy -- or her clarification. Right now, as minister, she speaks for...
-
All I Need Is The Headline From The Star!
Et voilà:
Is PM's sudden switch to glasses an image makeover?
Nah. Maybe this Prime Minister has gone from paper...
-
Bernie,
Nice one, if accurate!
Reminds me of the alleged kicking of that poor chair at the 2004 CPC Convention in Montreal. Damn it, so far the chair i...
Conservatives Lead by Six Points, NDP up (Nanos Poll Completed June 3rd 2010) (2010-06-08)
-
Consertative Supporter,
ROFL. You sure seem to be retired -- and not just professionally! (No offense intended.)
-
Now, now, Hollinm. Michael said we are open to it after the election results have come in, if need be. But he has also made it crystal clear that that dog wo...
-
Agreed. We may be a progressive nation but not THAT progressive.
Everyone basically likes Jack but that's about as far as it goes with most people, voters...
-
NAIT,
That's a pretty big if -- and right now, the Bloc is still in the mix. I don't see the numbers anywhere for a coalition of two.
-
Zachary,
Number three merits a careful examination. That's as far as I'll go for now.
-
NAIT,
And that is why we are no longer comatose, as regards platform elaboration and fine tuning. That train has finally left the station. Better late, th...
-
Bernie,
I need to be convinced that the NDP would govern from the center. This isn't Dexter we're talking about. But I take your point and admit I may be ...
-
Hollinm,
Perhaps the Queen can get lucky and convince this Prime Minister to take up Jean's post. Works for me -- and most other Canadians, I suspect!
-
Yeah Hollinm, as soon as I see that, I'll spontaneously need to empty my tool! (In the traditional way, of course...) But once again, I digress. Please forgi...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Like any allegation, it merits a thorough investigation. All we can do is wait and see what turns up.
On another matter -- in t...
-
Hollinm,
Remember how Stanfield vs. Trudeau turned out. I expect if we are both reasonably close, that could be a possibility again with Jack as kingmaker...
-
Hollinm,
I have absolutely no expertise relating to this. I'm as confused as you are. I will even go further -- I'm more like lost. Can't wait to see wher...
-
How Can I Put This As Accurately As Possible?
I feel like UPCHUCKING after today's vote. Enough said. See you!
-
Bernie,
I'm so disgusted with what happened in the Commons last night that I'm taking a powder for a considerable length of time. (Yes, that's what I said...
-
Letting Conservatives Speak...
Posted at Threehundredeight.com:
Shadow said...
Don't let Quebec separate, it would give Harper a comfortable majority !!
...
-
Bernie,
If you happen to meet Pablo in Montreal -- that'll surely get you a beer!
-
Zachary,
Surely, you will agree with me that without Quebec, the raison d'être for a Canadian federation basically ceases to exist. Might as well join the...
-
Zachary,
As I've said before, without Quebec, Canada very quickly ceases to exist, period.
The continentalist tendencies will lead to the political abs...
-
And another thing. The "French" and the "English" have played off each other -- not to mention deliberately manipulated each other since Macdonald's time. No...
-
Zachary,
We both KNOW that as soon as this Prime Minister gets his favourable judgment from the SCC on the National Securities Regulator that -- surprise,...
-
Dear Dumb Dumbs,
It may have escaped you but it's high time that you firmly push the old man into the wall.
Cough up now, or face the drastic consequen...
-
Who Will Be The Prized Chumps Come Thursday?
Care to take a bit of a guess?
For my part, I think I can hazard a prediction but I prefer to watch the pa...
-
Zachary,
Well, let me put you down respectfully as an optimist. Ontario would never go for that -- going from the big cheese to -- of secondary economic i...
-
Zachary,
You should have been an archeologist what with your propensity for digging up ancient ruins (especially when effectively cornered)...
-
Zachary,
I think you have that backwards -- the leader is not ready to go yet. Rae strikes me as more anxious believing that the coalition is the magic re...
-
No Question About It -- I'm With Jack.
It's called Negotation 101 and it's elementary. All three parties are to blame on this for having been hoodwinked b...
-
Fellow Liberals,
Just ask yourselves, would Jerry Yanover really have gone for this? We will never really know -- but somehow I doubt it.
-
Yup, we got royally rolled. This is nothing but a high falutin delaying tactic masterminded by this Prime Minister. I sometimes wonder how such a high degree...
-
Jack,
You should ask for and accept Libby Davies resignation as House Leader.
At present, her position cannot be described as anything else other than unt...
-
Zachary,
There is absolutely no bloody excuse for being outclassed like this...FCS, even the New Democrats can see right through this Prime Minister's str...
-
Zachary,
As far as I'm concerned, multiple strategic heads should roll instantly in the OLO.
Strategists may in fact be a dime a dozen but those in pla...
-
Zachary,
I'll go even one step further -- I rather see Herle and Reid back in place than the gang we've got in there right now. At least those two guys ha...
-
Zachary,
It is merely the supremacy of this government because the Liberals and Bloc were quite simply outnegotiated.
-
Zachary,
I can live with training police officers but not those complete incompetents in the Afghan Army...how many billions was it that the Americans hav...
-
Zachary,
As a Conservative it's perfectly normal that you would have low expections for Liberals. As a Liberal, I expect the moon. That is the OLO's job a...
-
Zachary,
This issue comes up as bad optics for the opposition parties no matter how you slice it. We should give this one a wide berth.
-
Zachary,
Neither of us are geniuses (unless you are keeping something from me!) and yet we both can see how this will play out. It follows the traditional...
-
Consertative Supporter,
You make the mistake of thinking we don't actually send, well, politicians there!!!
Now, you've seen the light. Cheap political...
-
Something Tells Me Jim Travers Has Something Against This Government.
Personally, I can't think why. After all, WE elected these MPs to the House -- twice a...
-
The Lesson We Liberals Find So Hard To Learn.
In the words of the Ethics and Access to Information Committee Chair, as reported by The Gazette:
"Liberal MP...
-
Sorry Nik, But I'm Stuck With Ekos!
Now let me see if I've got this right...Ekos puts the Conservatives at a severely tarnished 30.5%. Now, you're talking!
...
-
Involuntary Humility.
Zachary,
You know I had a few ideas for Michaëlle Jean as second act. Unfortunately, this Prime Minister seems to have been faster at...
-
My, No Wonder All Those Social Conservatives Are Smiling!
Just my luck -- you know me. Got a hankering to let my fingers do the walking to see if I could ...
-
Zachary,
If a multi-directional "hint" was your intention, you've succeeded -- even beyond your wildest dreams!!!
-
Zachary,
Do I think that the security estimates for Huntsville and Toronto are the final word on costs of that nature? Absolutely not. Do I expect further b...
-
But Zachary, I wasn't a Liberal back then, was I...
Try to look to the present and the future. That's how we establish political credibility. Remember, defl...
-
Again, Zachary, yours is a defensive spin. Canadians don't care whether Tony won with thirty something or close to eleven thousand votes. That sir, is comple...
-
Zachary,
Ha! Ha! Right back at you from the same Martin piece:
[...]
"It's still an unprecedented hosting tab for any country to pick up, particular...
-
Zachary,
You know very well that this Prime Minister has an agreement with the other leaders whereby each country will make its own decision whether to fund...
-
Afghanistan: Get The Hell Out Of There ASAP!
I'm tired of seeing brave Canadians coming home in coffins -- yeah, yeah, the combat role is about to end. That...
-
Zachary,
Yours is a valid point. Trouble is, it's somewhat extraneous to mine -- which also happens to be a valid point. Surely, you can see that.
If not, ...
-
Zachary,
Thank you, I think. We haven't agreed like this for quite some time. Perhaps, one -- or both of us are slipping.
-
PMO Statement On Anarchist Damage In Toronto.
Hopefully, this Prime Minister speaks for the vast majority of Canadians.
The PM's words certainly speak for ...
-
Zachary,
Right. You may not want to pay for Canadian abortions but that is not our call as citizens, is it. Doesn't bother yours truly to pay for them in Ca...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps you will also agree with this: the day I change my view is the day they capture or kill Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. And that, of...
-
Zachary,
Policing decisions are about protecting the public, police officers and most importantly, not using deadly force unless absolutely necessary to sav...
-
Zachary,
Think ballot box. It might take that before the light truly goes on! This is a peach of an issue for us.
-
Zachary,
This is minor to moderate damage to property. No lives were lost and no one was seriously injured. Hopefully, Cannon will be able to push through...
-
Yes, quite so...
-
Zachary,
The other thing that really makes me laugh is the fact that Petreus' thinking isn't too far off from that of McChrystal...the only difference is ...
-
Zachary,
FIrst point: nice drive-by smear! But moving on, the last time I checked anarchists were without formal party affiliation.
And one more thing:...
-
Give your head a shake Zachary. Call me skeptical but I somehow doubt ZACHARY, "ONE" of the parade marshals, would have gone to the fore to tell the anarchis...
-
Zachary,
I do not practice in Ontario but here it goes: yes, there are various legal obligations to assist police during an investigation. We are also und...
-
Zachary,
Let's simply call our discourse a draw, shall we?
-
Just For the Record...
I think the recent media speculation that this Prime Minister is planning to manoeuver his government into a fall election is just ...
-
Zachary,
Agreed that:
a) there will be no election in the fall because it takes three to tango and we Liberals don't seem to be planning on joining the...
-
The Big Canada Day Announcement?
I don't know about you but I'm inclined to think that this Prime Minister will break the news on Canada Day -- after it, ...
-
Zachary,
You forgot to mention that the strip searches were not videotaped...at least one woman says her strip search was conducted by a male officer...
-
Zachary,
Quite frankly, I'm astonished to see YOU, of all persons, electing to continue to go down such a LOW ROAD. I would have thought that was unbecoming...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Thanks for the compliment but I know precisely zilch about policing, not to mention policing tactics. CS, correct me if I'm wrong bu...
-
Consertative Supporter,
You, me and perhaps many Canadians want an inquiry -- but then look at the situation in Quebec: 70-90% are either calling, or in som...
-
Consertative Supporter,
To be fair to this Prime Minister, can you imagine how awkward it would have been on Canada Day to have both the Queen and Governor ...
-
Blackacadian,
As I've consistently said, the best guarantor of a Conservative minority government is this Prime Minister himself. In a rather ironic way, St...
-
Consertative Supporter,
I think I know who may get the nod but I prefer not to go there. After all, it was a good Conservative who gave me a heads up and ...
-
Zachary,
Their view of the world is not my view of it...
-
Zachary,
Are you telling me that you have it ON THE RECORD that "...each and every group that marched in that riot has supported the comments, policies br...
-
Zachary,
We don't have the same recollection. It was my impression that some Liberals supported either or both Meech and Charlottetown while others suppor...
-
Zachary,
It's impossible to say categorically that none of the regular protesters are Conservatives. But I'll bet it's a fair point to say those few CPC s...
-
Zachary,
I don't agree with the original U of O position. No one needs to take any action to discredit Ann Coulter. Her message does the job all by itself...
-
Zachary,
The president is accountable to the Chancellor and the University Senate, in whatever form it happens to operate at the U of O.
At first blush, I ...
-
Zachary,
Somehow I doubt that the CCLA are a bunch of raving lunatics who would bring nothing but frivolous lawsuits without merit in an attempt to promote ...
-
Zachary,
I would categorize Michael's position as short-sighted and somewhat alarmist. I urge him to rethink this. We should really be going the safeguard r...
-
Zachary,
I see this is blue herring time, again! Canadians' adverse reaction is to the conduct of the black block/anarchist/thugs and NOT TO LEGITIMATE peac...
-
Consertative Supporter,
You're talking about the capitalist way -- or should I say trick -- and it works with both metric and imperial measurement.
Industr...
-
Zachary,
You posted this yourself:
“Ideally, we would hope the federal government would offer a compensation package to not only people wrongfully detained...
-
Likewise.
-
From Threehundredeight.com.
On Renewing The Federation.
Ronald O'Dowd said...
Shadow,
With respect, you are dead wrong. Let's start on a theoretical plan...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Sorry. Actor Harry Morgan played Colonel Sherman Potter on M*A*S*H.
As for the enhanced driver's license, here in Quebec, I'm told ...
-
Too bad you haven't met a Bond Girl yet! But they say the third time is the charm.
-
On another matter: do you think the US is heading for a double-dip? Are you avoiding the markets now or simply waiting for things to settle down a bit (like ...
-
Consertative Supporter,
There are plenty of crooks across the globe -- not to mention in this country. I'm for proactive enforcement wherever that is both a...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Thanks. We both seem to have a love for micro and small caps. Personally, I prefer the game to the actual $$$ generation (as opposed...
-
Zachary,
Last time I checked, the G80 wasn't being held at Queen's Park...logically, one exercises one's democratic rights as close to the venue that is the...
-
Zachary,
That gentleman is brave and however commendable his action, policing is best left to the police. In fact, that is the view of the police. After all...
-
Zachary,
Are you telling me that Spadina and the other streets (whose names escape me, not being from Toronto) are not downtown? If so, I stand corrected.
-
Zachary,
Perhaps, in your opinion. But not mine. We may as well drop this since quite obviously, we will never agree.
-
Zachary,
Let's just say it shows you aren't a lawyer...legal reasoning does not work by wide swatch.
-
Zachary,
Two posts back you said everything occurred around Queen's Park. In this post, you write about events which took place in the downtown core. Which ...
-
Zachary,
Quite obviously, Section 1 can be applied to police actions but to pretend that it provides sufficient legal cover for all police actions from thre...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps for the only time in your life, please take some advice from me -- and don't let it get around that you happen to agree wholeheartedly wit...
-
Time For Richard Fadden To Think...Again.
I want to begin by stating that CSIS Director Richard Fadden has made an outstanding contribution to Canada in the...
-
And You Thought This Prime Minister's Sport Was Hockey!
Hate to disappoint you, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper has hidden talents in a sport not well kno...
-
Zachary,
Smoke screen time, eh! You know perfectly well that if Canada made a repatriation request that the U.S. would abandon the military tribunal and s...
-
Zachary,
SO I take it then that you are completely in agreement that Fadden does not owe an apology to any person or cultural community. That is not my view.
-
Zachary,
Of course, you meant to say allegedly tossing a grenade. As you know, there is some question as to who actually tossed it.
I presume the next ...
-
Zachary,
Let me know who's going to break it to Jason...there goes all his work with the cultural communities -- flush. Not that I'm actually complaining ...
Harper ahead but slides as Best PM; Leaders slide in wake of negativity (Nanos Poll Completed May 3rd 2010) (2010-05-10)
-
Zachary,
Don't count your chickens before they hatch. Please don't consign us to the ash heap just yet!
-
Poor Stephen -- No One In Sight To Come On Down To His Sandbox!!!!
Come on Prime Minister. Stand next to the mirror and take a long, hard, good look...see t...
-
Hollinm,
Zachary,
"Ronald....lets remember the U.K. coalition is not a coalition of the losers. It is a coalition of the party who one the most seats and...
-
Hollinm,
Just think IMPONDERABLES. After all, you have a recent example right before you: both yours truly and Gordon Brown were convinced he couldn't los...
-
Hollinm,
I will, thanks!
As for Donolo, I suspect I've already exhausted that subject.
Have a good weekend -- that is, unless this Prime Minister is...
-
Zachary,
Now, let me get this straight -- first Conservatives were bitching and complaining that almost no one was covering Lee's alleged transgressions and...
-
Zachary,
That's accurate. The eminent jurists have the final say. And what they say will determine the future viability of this government. If their view is...
-
Come Zachary, neither of us can be right (or wrong) all the time. The most high will determine which one of us gets to be "The House" at the election casino....
-
Zachary,
That's one of the many things I most like about Michael -- got to give it to him, the man is P-E-R-C-E-P-T-I-V-E, isn't he. We are both on the same...
-
Now Hollinm, didn't you get the memo???
This Prime Minister doesn't DO public inquiries!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would have thought, if nothing else, that that highly...
-
Conservatives: Quick, Grab Those Shovels And Get The Old Backfilling Going!
I have to tip my hat to 49 Steps. What has been posted over at ThreeHundredEight...
-
The Yes and No Prime Minister!
Got to give it to this Prime Minister. He has taken his pretzel making to new heights what with his recent flexibility on Hel...
-
So Much For Another Conservative "Brilliant" Idea...
Rethink, Prime Minister. Or prepare to get burned on yet another issue:
"Half want Jean back as GG: p...
-
Hollinm,
This Prime Minister and I know each other's mind well. And that's why I can confidently say that he's heading for a fall, given his current traject...
-
Zachary,
I don't do talking points. Never have and never will! What you see is what you get and it's straight O'Dowd.
-
Zachary,
This Prime Minister is increasingly vulnerable on the question of women -- not to mention their right to do as they please with their bodies. Make ...
-
Zachary,
Notice in the main that Michael happens to be rising. Also take note that some others happen to be falling.
-
Zachary,
As a musical connaisseur, I know you'll be able to relate to this:
The Fifth Dimension - Up, Up And Away
Would you like to ride in my beautiful b...
-
Zachary,
Think Liberal uptick. Watch carefully. It's coming.
-
Zachary,
They were going south. We are coming off the bottom and rising. Will that continue? We'll see.
-
Zachary,
Then with respect, does that suggest that you fall in the category of Ye of little faith!?
-
As you can see Zachary -- I've still got (unlike some Liberals) the old-fashioned Ignatieff religion. And we aren't talking Russian Orthodox here.
-
You know how it goes when hasty decisions are made. You panic, wanting to save the ship and in the end, you come to severely regret the optics...
Sound fami...
-
Zachary,
Like many Canadians, I'm confident you"ll see the shining light as soon as the election rolls around. Repent Zachary, repent, before it's too late.
-
Zachary,
You don't agree with me that to come off the bottom, one has to rise?
One of us is right. Let's see which one, in subsequent polls.
-
Zachary,
I prefer: Because Canadians could be mine, Michael walks the line!
-
Zachary,
Can't say that I have. Please enlighten me. Thanks.
-
Zachary,
Anything is possible in politics. But I prefer to keep the faith. I'm looking forward to going to the polls this fall.
-
You are nothing if not wise Zachary. You never know who might be reading!
-
See you.
-
Playing The Public For Saps.
Well, congratulations to all MPs other than the Bloc who continue to steadfastly resist the overtures of Auditor General Sheila...
-
Hollinm,
Why state the obvious? Both of us know perfectly well that we Liberals also have some pro-life MPs...nothing remotely sinister about not mentioning...
-
Hollinm,
Again, why state the obvious. Of course, we are hypocrites. These are POLITICIANS we're talking about: they are ALL HYPOCRITES. That's the nature o...
-
Hollinm,
Perhaps you forget how often I kissed the last leader's ring when I was still in the same party as you are! If they are expecting that in the new p...
-
Hollinm,
If that's the case, please explain to me why this Prime Minister is suffering from a serious case of election phobia! Stephen is now bending into a...
-
Hollinm,
How can you say that I would return to the Conservatives? I became a Progressive Conservative to fight Harper. I did not like his views as Alliance...
-
Hollinm,
Nice yarn. But now the real deal: yes, this Prime Minister will see to it that active or retired justices (to his liking) will be named. Personally...
-
Hollinm,
I'm not a woman so my views are academic IMHO. But I think we can both say that if we are to have abortions, which I endorse, the emphasis should b...
-
Hollinm,
Have you any idea how low I am on the Liberal radar? Yours truly is not someone that Michael (much less D-O-N-O-L-O!!!!!!!!!!) speaks to on the pho...
-
Hollinm,
I agree with your concerns. This is a matter of gradation: it makes my blood boil when we worry about ministers using Challengers instead of commer...
-
Bernie,
Perhaps the alleged backdating of Oliphant Commission counsel billing by PCO might fall into that category...
-
HC in AB,
A lot of the fronted candidates will be disqualified by the mandatory bilingual nature of the position. Such is life...
-
HC in AB,
Agreed, but you remember what the Supreme Court told Trudeau about constitutional convention...
-
Zachary,
Interesting. Will get back to you tomorrow. Still buried in work (and another matter but you know me -- at least I'm making life very interesting...
-
Why Am I Smiling?
A few days, I was asked to take a preliminary look at the latest EKOS numbers -- you remember EKOS, the supposedly biased polling firm wi...
-
Zachary,
It was amusing to see this Prime Minister (for once) insert a positive wedge to preëmpt a major abortion debate in the next campaign. I would call ...
-
From Bob and Weave On Abortion To Cut And Run On MP Expenses Auditing.
You have to hand it to this Prime Minister. The man knows where to find some shade as...
-
Zachary,
There is no coalition on this issue. Jack refuses to tango and Michael is only now seriously considering putting his Fraser-inspired costume on. On...
-
Pourquoi et comment?
Le fruit n'est pas mûr. Voilà la réponse qui vient du gouvernement fédéral ainsi que des autres provinces et territoires. Je pense beac...
-
Those Poor Lost Souls Up In Ottawa.
Isn't it bad enough that our representatives on the Hill seem to have lost their way on the issue of accountability and ...
-
Bernie,
Ditto for Marlene Jennings who was all over the tube yesterday in both official languages!
-
Starting To Get Royally Pissed Off...
I don't know about you -- but if you caught Bob Fife's piece on Canada Am this morning, you are probably like me: no...
-
Hi!
You remember me. I'm the guy who has been pushing for the defeat of this government since last May. I realize now that I should really be in a rubber ro...
-
Blackacadian,
Pleased to hear from you. I know that I along with others appreciate your views. We can keep plugging away but in the final analysis, the le...
-
Bernie,
Politics is in a sad state when it goes from blood sport to cut throat, at almost every opportunity. I don't just blame this Prime Minister, I bla...
-
Zachary,
Nice to have you back. This is like a walk in the park for me. I don't know the meaning of frustration -- remember when I was a Red Tory in a par...
-
Now Zachary, all you have ownership of is a POSSIBLE solution, not a definite one.
As for the Speaker, Milliken knows his time is up in light of his previ...
-
Zachary,
Funny that you (not to mention Spector) should be so pre-occupied with mere internal housekeeping. Don't you worry, as soon as we get to the elec...
-
One more thing. Last time I checked Jenni Byrne wasn't performing any miracles either...
-
Ditto for Ghislain Maltais.
-
Memo To Kevin O'Leary.
When it comes to high finance and investing, a lot of us take a backseat to Kevin O'Leary. Now, Kevin claims (or at least he did on...
-
But Zachary, the situation isn't "fixed" yet even though this Prime Minister wants it "wrapped up" by the weekend.
Perhaps Conservative members of the BIE a...
-
UPDATE: Tony made CTV News Tonight.
The PMO says he has done nothing wrong by serving as a pitchman (more or less) for a company in his riding. Naturally, o...
-
Zachary,
This is a question of gradation: Conservatives coast to avoid losing power; Liberals choose to coast because some of them believe we can't win an...
-
Zachary,
If standardization and consistency in web expense posting is the name of the game --I'm all for it!
But that cat is already out of the bag wit...
-
Zachary,
We each have our strategy and I can guarantee you that one of us is right!!!
-
Zachary,
Suffice it to say that Graves needs an extended vacation if that is really his view.
We both know this Prime Minister -- who has ranted and ra...
-
We May Not Have Problems In The Gulf Of Mexico...
But it isn't all peaches and cream here either...as a for instance: just wait until Hurricane Helena fin...
-
National Securities Regulator: Harper Will Win Hands-Down.
As discussed here previously, the matter has been referred to the Supreme Court of Canada.
M...
-
Zachary,
Bob Rae is not the positioning kind. In future he may run again for the leadership, or he may not.
-
Well, we can't be sure what she did or didn't do. Was something serious done outright or is she really suffering allegedly from so-called guilt by associatio...
-
Zachary,
That's not how anyone eventually becomes leader after the Chrétien/Martin wars and I think Bob knows that.
-
Zachary,
Once again, (and not for the first or even second time...), there goes my future job in Ottawa. Beyond belief, incredibly stupid -- barring furth...
-
Please Zachary, a vigorous, healthy rivalry among good friends does not a war make. Lighten up or better yet, join the PM at Harrington Lake for a few warm, ...
-
Zachary,
Both of us remain range bound. Put another way, the voters have yet to find confidence in either of us. But this too shall eventually pass for one ...
-
Why Jack, What Are You Guys Thinking?
Are you sure we're talking the New Democrats here!? I thought you were among the parties that had heard Canadians' "me...
-
Zachary,
Don't you get it by now? As long as there is no formal coalition signing agreement and petition of the Governor General for power, there is no octa...
-
Right, build an out and they will come (Conservatives) and drive as many trucks as possible through it...to avoid government accountability on this issue.
...
-
Zachary,
Then you must be with me -- in favour of an election as quickly as possible. I want those same Canadians to have their say, the sooner the better. ...
-
Zachary,
An election is only "not necessary" if the country wants the Conservatives to remain in power. Are you quite sure that's what most Canadians want? ...
-
There Goes The Bulldozer, Again...
God, it's displays like that -- seen in the Government Operations Committee today by Transport Minister John Baird that o...
-
HC in AB,
You make many valid points. Yours is a fair comment on conduct often unbecoming in Ottawa -- generally coming from all sides.
But remember, as a ...
-
Careful Zachary,
Your "blue" herring is showing!
-
Zachary,
As usual, your consideration for keeping me up to date with the latest polling information is much appreciated. Much more work to be done by all ...
-
Zachary,
We Liberals believe that the The Brotherhood of Man said it best:
There's nowhere in the world that I would rather be
Than with you my love
And ...
-
Afghanistan: No Way José.
Some may want an "intense discussion" on our future role, if any, in Afghanistan. The combat mission ends in July 2011 with total ...
-
Detaching Ten MPs From Their Province?
Liberals, Bloquistes and NDPers in Quebec will be keenly watching to see if the hammer comes down on Conservative Sen...
-
Zachary,
One thing is for sure: you are WELL rested!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Zachary,
Ever think about becoming a writer? Here's some helpful advice though -- if I were you, I would concentrate my efforts on Fiction! Your talents l...
-
Zachary,
All about politics! Well, I never...imagine that -- not to mention the genuine astonishment coming from all those "apolitical" and "non-ideology-...
-
From Reflecting Blues To Reflecting Pool...
Our tax dollars at work: wasn't it bad enough to discover that the security cost associated with the upcoming G2...
Federal Conservatives Lead (Nanos Poll Completed May 3rd 2010) (2010-05-06)
-
Zachary,
Nice try but we both know that leadership review calls along with Dump X movements don't start that way. Take my own experience: we only moved agai...
-
Hollinm,
Quite a long absence. Glad you're back!
Now how about taking your own advice, that is, if your comment was meant to be anything more than tongue-i...
-
Hollinm,
Buy Zachary a drink. He could really use one. Something (or is it someone?) seems to have gotten under his skin (wink!)...
At least he didn't have...
-
Hi Tom,
I really wonder how many Progressive Conservatives (rank and file) are still in the Conservative game. A frank assessment could come from Senator Hu...
-
Hollinm,
Why don't you and Zachary start a Rae draft. Please. We both know that Bob Rae will never be the leader:
a) A generational change is in the cards ...
-
Hollinm,
As usual, your remarks are more than perceptive. But the truth is they don't give a damn in the PMO. All they really care about is to continue runn...
-
Hollinm,
I understand the argument you make but I don't agree with it. Get the Red Book on track, and then get into an election. And see what happens. Never...
-
Hollinm,
You will probably fall off your chair but here it goes:
I've taken the measure of Michael. I find many of the same tremendous strengths that I fin...
-
Hollinm,
I have done well not to underestimate this Prime Minister since 2004. The battle carries on, simply in a new form, in another political incarnation...
-
Hollinm,
On the strict narrow argument of doing anything to stay in office, of course, all parties feel that way. No one is denying it. But as you know, we ...
-
Hollinm,
You may have what I would term relatively minor differences with this government. I respect that. But you know Harper's trajectory as well as I do:...
-
Hollinm,
You have left me ALMOST speechless. I'll bet if either of us was Prime Minister, we would find it foolhardy that Harper is willing to take the ston...
-
Hollinm,
Smears coming from any party do not win elections...Liberals can only win alone. No formal or informal (wink-nod) agreement will cut the mustard. I...
-
Hollinm,
I don't approve of anyone in the Canadian government being labeled a war criminal. To even be suspected of such, one has to be at least complicit i...
-
Hollinm,
And that's precisely why we should follow Leona's fine example instead of ridiculing her for not being aggressive or confrontational enough. God kn...
-
Hollinm,
They say love is blind. (It once certainly did apply to yours truly.) And I suspect one can say in all fairness that it's the case with Helena. She...
-
Hollinm,
This is meant as a joke so I hope it will be taken that way:
You sound a lot like Dewey. I prefer to concentrate on replicating the role of T-R-U-...
-
Zachary,
I for the most part, did not go after Helena. I plan on doing the same with Lee or anyone else. If there is something there, I'm for transparency.
...
-
Zachary,
You just kill me sometimes...as someone who is a self-confessed former Liberal, isn't it just a little rich for you to call Rae a sell-out?
I mean...
-
Zachary,
My sentiments exactly. At least, as regards the specialty of litigation...
Exceedingly well said.
-
Zachary,
You know how the generics of these things work and it applies to all parties -- regardless of whether one has the media in their pocket or even eat...
-
Zachary,
As long as we are being candid: voted for Clark, Mulroney, Turner, Chrétien and Harper. Did not vote for Campbell nor Charest.
-
Zachary,
Agreed. Still think that all passes are, at best, temporary.
-
Zachary,
Nighty, night. Off to Threehundredeight.com now.
-
Tom,
When Dion organized his future coalition, I was on board as I saw it as a means to an end, namely, to sink this Conservative government. Then would com...
-
Hollinm,
Agreed that the Martin record will hurt Liberals -- but only on the margins.
You know how the PMO works. Direction and responsibility flows from t...
-
Hollinm,
She is our Health Minister. From Nunavut.
-
Hollinm,
Come on. Harper is not anti-democratic, or even anti-women as some may allege. What he is on these two issues is scheming -- to his supposed advant...
-
Hollinm,
Our job is not to think it. Ours is to make it HAPPEN.
-
Josée Speaks.
Just caught Josée Verner on Les coulisses du pouvoir on Radio-Canada. She did a good job of getting her views across -- trouble is, it was not...
-
Hollinm,
Your comments regarding Michael are not what I would have expected of you. I prefer to leave it at that.
-
Happy Mother's Day To All Moms!
I'm a lucky person. My Mom is still with us. Off to spend the day with her. Hope most of you can do the same. Remember, putt...
-
Hollinm,
Of course he is scheming and yes, you are correct, he did what all PMs have done in the past...scheme to stay in office.
As for mean-spirited,...
-
Hollinm,
Let's have some fun and take them one by one:
1) Abortion: Ron onside;
2) Gay Pride: Big money maker for TO - Ron onside but believe in rot...
-
Hollinm,
I don't remember Dion saying he was "not a leader" nor Ignatieff saying he was "just visiting"...
-
Hollinm,
"That was the problem with the Red Tories. They were really Liberal light."
Are you inviting all Red Tories (including Senator Segal) to leave...
-
Hollinm,
We can use that tired phrase 1000 times but it still won't make it right.
-
Watching Helena With Mansbridge.
Personally, I found it rather painful to watch. Clearly, she is suffering greatly. She strikes me as being a person who off...
-
Hollinm,
If you know anything at all about Warren, you know that he doesn't do bale...he is the best fighter that we've got whether or not that happens to b...
-
Hollinm,
As anyone given any consideration as to how some people will look if she turns out to be nothing more than a dupe? Might I suggest that there will ...
Economic optimism muted (Nanos Economic Monitor, First Quarter 2010) (2010-03-23)
-
Contraception and Abortion: Essential Elements To Securing Women's Health.
Well, it's no surprise that the Liberal motion on maternal and child health in ...
-
Zachary,
Re: Paragraphs 1, 2 and 4: watch the hammer come down. It won't be pretty but it will be memorable!
Zachary, they don't call it the first offe...
-
Zachary,
Again, we disagree. Women are the key to any theoretical Conservative majority government. And I'll bet you all the tea in China (I know, corny a...
-
Zachary,
No one questions the review process by Mr. Justice Iacobucci. Now, the government claims that he will be given complete access from 2001 onward. ...
-
Zachary,
We will both be watching for confirming polls. Then we can take it from there.
-
Zachary,
Rather nice broad skate around my previous post, don't you think? Interesting. See you tomorrow. Off to the restaurant now for supper.
-
Zachary,
Nice of you to think of my personal welfare. See ya.
-
Zachary,
I take your point and deduce from it that there will be no political interference from the government nor resort to the courts. That is a wise de...
-
Zachary,
Remember, to err is human, forgive divine...we need a lot more of that in politics!
-
Zachary,
One proviso -- granted the numbers may stay the same -- I'll give you that but remember, our job is to try and get traction on this.
I'll unde...
-
E N O U G H A L R E A D Y, S I N K T H I S D A M N E D G O V E R N M E N T !
I don't know about you but I'm sick and tired of playing the role of ...
-
Maritimer,
Thank you. I would remind you that we haven't lost YET - let's wait until the ballot are counted, shall we?
See you on the campaign trail!
-
Zachary,
You know my position on national security versus parliamentary privilege. You also know that I believe that the government is using the pretext o...
-
Bernie,
Excellent post. You said it a lot better than I did. Thanks for your support on this.
-
Zachary,
If the oppositon is actually pushing for 100% of the documents to enter the public domain, that is a no-go for any reasonable person. They have t...
-
Zachary,
Correct me if I'm wrong but my view is that you are at point A, the opposition position is apparently at point B.
Yours truly is roughly half ...
-
Zachary,
Not at all. I still maintain that the Martin government and those ministers still within Liberal ranks who served under him will get to wear it f...
-
Zachary,
Please. The public service is non-partisan but they know how (and better) to take direction from their political masters...need I say anything fu...
-
Zachary,
Media or not, does anyone seriously think that the Conservatives will not run with this ball? Of course they will -- it's sound political tactics...
-
Zachary,
IMHO, that one is clearly out the window. No question this government is in for some incoming. It may be major or it may not. But in the world of...
-
Zachary,
I take your point so long as you also agree that Conservatives have done precisely the same thing in the House in the past. We can leave it to ne...
-
Fowler Gives 'Em Hell.
Robert Fowler fired the ultimate broadside as Liberals met in Montreal over the weekend to chart the party's course heading into an...
-
Zachary,
Yup. Absolutely. You know how it goes. The longer we wait, the weaker we look. An alternative government has to stand up and be counted, just lik...
-
Zachary,
I would have thought that his remarks jolted pretty much everyone in the room out of their complacency. Or at least, it had better have.
-
Thanks, But No Thanks.
The United States along with some our allies would like Canada to take on a training role in Kabul once we leave Khandahar in July ...
-
Great News, Prime Minister!
Dear Prime Minister,
I've studied your exam carefully and after a thorough review, have decided to take up your mark a notch in...
-
Zachary,
If you must know -- C-. (Nothing to write home about...)
-
Zachary,
Would you happen to know if those two are related by any chance to Joe Biden???!!!
-
Zachary,
You're talking grades based on polling performance. I'm talking grades concerning relations with the media and the parliamentary press gallery en...
-
Zachary,
I don't know. It might be a flash in the pan or it could be the start of the next best thing. The regional panels follow next -- there will be on...
-
My Last Wish: To Be A Fly On The Wall Over At Kingsmere!
Two words are on every parliamentarian's lips these days in Ottawa -- "Milliken's Musings" is all...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps you need to...polish those binoculars!
-
Some Have Really Got It, Others Quite Obviously Don't.
There's an art to speaking your own personal truth on reproductive services, contraception and aborti...
-
Zachary,
You know how to play the game. We've both been at it for a while now...you know perfectly well that that presidential executive order was merely ...
-
Zachary,
One more thing: Canada may have to be dragged kicking and screaming back to its longstanding policy on foreign aid (by the Americans). Otherwise....
-
Zachary,
With respect, you've got it wrong. The Tea Partyers have shown themselves to be extremists outside the mainstream of American politics. In Novemb...
-
Zachary,
Not really -- the inherant danger for this Prime Minister lies in the fact that quite obviously he wants nothing to do with abortion services as ...
-
Zachary,
Excellent point on the dynamics of the women's vote and their message. Certainly worth pondering.
-
Zachary,
Nicely sarcastic. But if it is not Conservative policy domestically, why is it NOT conservative policy INTERNATIONALLY??? Now there's the rub (an...
-
Blackacadian,
I think we probably would both agree that the Government of Canada can't have one policy on abortion services (in this case a lack of statut...
-
Zachary,
So-called Liberal "silence" does not dispel the notion that this government is trying to do something internationally that it doesn't have the gu...
-
Zachary,
Once again we are at an impasse. Time to make hay while the sun shines!
-
Do You Really Want To Be Known As The Abortion Police For The Third World?
I sure hope that this Prime Minister has taken to wearing boots -- you know the k...
-
I Hate To Say I Told You So...But I Did.
What a week the Harper government could conceivably have in the "Cut Your Loses" Department. First, they could thro...
-
Zachary,
Traction is coming, slowly but surely on this one. Just you wait and see.
-
Zachary,
I did not say the numbers were traction. I said future TRACTION is coming!
-
Zachary,
Agree with you that my traction is highly theoretical but you know as well as I do that as long as we keep plugging, sooner or later something wi...
-
What Did I Tell You...Traction On The Way!
The Globe and Mail Blogs:
Majority backs abortion rights
Bill Curry
It is the debate that dare not spe...
-
Not Your Run-Of-The-Mill Afghan Musical Score.
(one nun at a time)
She has a bird
And flings her boots
She cannot help but swear
She throws a fit on her w...
-
Consertative Supporter,
That's what I like about you...you don't even try to mellow with age!
Just in case you didn't know, no one can take away even one o...
-
Zachary,
Deflection is often an effective tool but as you know, it does not tend to work belatedly!
You're talking ancient history here that no longer ...
-
Now Zachary -- we can't extrapolate too much from those numbers. Granted it's neck and neck but what both of us need is subsets: ask that same question only ...
-
Come on Zachary. You've missed the point entirely. No one, including Liberals wants to enact legislation on abortion. All parties are content with the legal ...
-
Zachary,
Your analysis is a fair one. I take your point and admit that how you see it may turn out to be correct.
-
Zachary,
You may consider my remarks condescending -- I consider them a difference regarding approach and tactics.
Again, you are pushing and assuming ...
-
Zachary,
My impression is that it continues to fire up the Conservative base but I doubt much hay can be made with it by the time the next election rolls ...
-
Zachary,
Agreed that it does mean that, to some extent. Where we wholeheartedly disagree is that I think we can get Grable legs out of it and you are conv...
-
Zachary,
Each side is convinced that Milliken's ruling will give them a stick to beat the other with and win an election. In short, we agree that the writ...
-
Zachary,
1) Partially disagree. The government can seek a reference while the opposition can only seek leave to appeal (but is there a judgment at first i...
-
Michaëlle Jean's Second Act.
If we are to believe reports in the media, the Governor General will be on the way out this fall when her terms expires. The St...
-
Zachary,
Candidly, I'm rather surprised by your remarks...this so-called Liberal retread happens to have saved this government's bacon! You know as well as ...
-
Oops, that should be Prorogation I.
-
How I Despair. Will Humankind Never Learn The Lesson Of Peace?
I thought we were finally making progress what with the winding down of foreign forces in Ira...
-
Is Mitt "It"?
Well, we're finally off to the races in the U.S. speculating on who eventually will take on President Obama in the general election two years ...
-
Zachary,
Thank you. Same to you. And it will get better when I head off to Laura Secord tomorrow for the usual 50% off. You know what they say about compens...
-
Zachary,
We're both pros at this game. You know how it goes for all successful candidates: they follow the JS example. First, you have no contact whatsoever...
-
Zachary,
Think again. Jean has not been a good Governor General. She has also not been an outstanding GG. Michaëlle Jean has in fact been a truly exceptiona...
-
It's Easter. I Thank God Every Day That I Will Never Be Prime Minister!
Wow, the pile on continues for Helena. I can't believe that we are even discussing h...
-
Zachary,
We discussed this possibility a couple of months ago. At that time it was our personal speculation based on what the low buzz was in Ottawa. Quite ...
-
Zachary,
It was the talk of the journalist roundtable on CTV's QP today. Perhaps their website has more on it.
-
Zachary,
Come on. Of course there is a story here. The Star did not invent it. They heard the same buzz all of Ottawa heard. Now, as I said, if the PM was n...
-
Zachary,
Let me get this straight: your argument is based on the way The Star reported the Hansen part of the story. Right? In other words, you're perhaps s...
-
Zachary,
Here is the link from The Ottawa Citizen:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Guergis+great+Ottawa+interest/2755794/story.html
-
Zachary,
I too found it odd that not one of the persons interviewed said anything in her favour. Now that could be significant in more ways than one...
-
Zachary,
I did not canvass widely but what I heard or saw was other media citing The Star story. Both CBC and CTV did that, if I'm not mistaken.
See you to...
-
Zachary,
I'm in no position to either support or refute that article. I know nothing about the matter and will be keeping my big mouth shut on this one. See...
-
I meant ways. We both know that theoretically, it could cut either in her favour or against her depending on how credible the interview sample was.
-
Agreed. In our case it is boeuf (beef) bourguignon. Store bought, mom is 79 after all but tasty as hell all the same!!!
-
Gordon Brown Pulls The Plug (Hint, Hint)!
This guy reminds me of the great Canadian fighter -- namely, Jean Chrétien. Two polls have Labour ten points bac...
-
Zachary,
Unlike our own Conservatives who at times bring an entirely new dimension to the word pragmatism (fortunately they are not consistent enough on tha...
-
Consertative Supporter,
I wondered for ages who that person was who dislikes the Governor General. And now I finally know!
-
Hardy To Laurel: "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."
Now, take a moment and substitute just about any head of state or government for Ha...
-
I need a vacation...that should be Hamid Karzai.
-
Hey Hollinm,
Have you left Florida for a trek along the Amazon?! We haven't heard a peep out of you for at least a month. You're not going soft on us, are y...
-
Zachary,
I guess we are each in our own universe as regards the definition of moderate!!!
-
Zachary,
What with the 9-11-2001 training camps in Afghanistan, any Canadian government had no logical choice but to be snookered. The attacks put all gov...
-
Zachary,
The Prime Minister will call the tune on this one -- not the Liberals or anyone else. But in the final analysis, the end result is likely to be t...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps you've never heard of it but it's called the House of Commons withdrawing its confidence from a particular government. To call that an atte...
-
Zachary,
With all due respect to you as well, are you telling me that this Prime Minister is prepared to jog-in-place even if this goes on for weeks, if not...
-
Zachary,
Are you suggesting that this Conservative government had it been in power in 2001 would not have committed forces to Afghanistan? Are you further s...
-
Zachary,
Then can I take it that we are agreed? All the more reason to get the hell out of there as quickly as possible.
-
Zachary,
Not another example of the Harper shuffle! How many times has it been done in the past? Personally, I gave up counting some time ago. Besides, if t...
-
Sub-Par RCMP Thinking.
What is the force thinking? Do they not realize that a terrorist attack on Parliament Hill is not a question of if but merely a matte...
-
Zachary,
Glover's profile is so obvious it practically glows! Doesn't take a genius to know that she has been tapped for the next cabinet shuffle -- you k...
-
Zachary,
How can you run with the understanding when the government uses a tactical measure to prevent dissolution. End result: no election where you can ...
-
Zachary,
I just love that phrase. That must be why I've been for a Canadian election since last May!
-
I thought screwing the taxpayer was a mandatory requirement for any government -- federal or otherwise...
-
Zachary,
At least you have the comfort of knowing that it's in the Nanos Archives!
-
Zachary,
See you tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise engaged until then...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps the parliamentary press gallery can run through the next campaign with the following slogan:
"Have piss, will travel!"
-
Zachary,
Quite obviously, you don't seem to know me as well as you think you do!
My tactical approach on this file is, shall we say, somewhat unconventiona...
-
The Week From Hell...
Some past incumbents were actually reported to have said that they enjoyed the job! I doubt you will hear the same from the current oc...
-
Has The Message From Canadians Sunk In Yet?
For your sake, I hope it finally has. The 32 and 29 percent crowd sure know how not to get something started...h...
-
Zachary,
I don't have to remind you about the power of the written word.
-
Zachary,
Both the Liberals and Conservatives can look for and find airplanes. What is missing is the common resolve to actually hop aboard and proceed to ta...
-
Zachary,
Don't underestimate your contribution to the poltical discourse. It makes people think and more importantly, can change minds.
-
In Search Of A Wayward Election, à la Bert Bacharach:
Trains and boats and planes are passing by.
They mean a trip to Paris or Rome
To someone else but not ...
-
...And The Remedy For What Ails Harper and Ignatieff:
What the world needs now is love sweet love,
It's the only thing that there's just too little of.
What...
-
Zachary,
LOL. And you thought you were only on battery power.
-
But Zachary, both of us make it enjoyable otherwise we would be off doing something else!
-
Zachary,
Afraid not. Since my internal hemmorrhage six years ago, I'm on a daily dose of Nexium for acid reflux disease. You can guess what that means -- no...
-
Zachary,
Are you actually saying you miss my good Liberal friend. I can ask him to come back, if you wish. I'm sure he's more than willing to oblige!!!!!!!!...
-
Prediction Time!
As someone who never shies away from looking potentially stupid, here's my UK Election Prediction:
Gordon Brown will beat David Cameron an...
-
What Should We Be Looking For?
In the past, the RCMP has been quick to say which cabinet minister was not under investigation as it related to a particular ...
-
Parnel3,
I have a bit of an idea how this will eventually shakeout but I suspect that when it's all over things will have taken a bit of a surprising turn. ...
-
Parnel3,
Some will agree with you but I think this is recoverable for Michael. Even theoretically speaking, this Prime Minister could pull this out if only ...
-
Parnel3,
You could be right, but remember how far ahead Cameron was a year ago. To yours truly, that is indicative of very soft, lukewarm Conservative suppo...
-
Dimitri Soudas: Moving On Up!
To begin, congratulations, I think?! If anyone can break the Communications Director curse, he can...I like to see a Prime Min...
-
Parnel3,
And that is why we look to the RCMP for a fair and impartial investigation. Every Canadian at least deserves that.
-
Parnel3,
Michael has to ask himself which is more important: a possible change of government following an induced election -- or only going to the people wh...
-
Parnel3,
All you say is often true but so many Canadians across party lines are consumed with the noble goal of public service rather than personally enrich...
-
Parnel3,
No one will take seriously what comes out of the QP freak show. I mean it seems to go lower and lower with each passing session. What is done there...
-
Consertative Supporter,
As tempting as your opening is, I feel in the interest of true political sportsmanship that, alas, I must simply let that golden opp...
-
RCMP Idol!
Now, I know the rest of you are just like me -- racking your brains trying to figure out precisely what song is best suited to today's mood and i...
-
Zachary,
This poll only confirms that yours truly is right and you know who is wrong. Stunning revelation in the context of a party that has deliberately ...
-
Zachary,
Our system is based on representation by population. Only a fool would fight against that principle -- it happens to be fundamental to our democr...
-
Come on Zachary -- and the news in that would be? ...
Since Confederation, Quebec and Ontario have called the electoral tune. Now, it's the West's turn. N...
-
Not So Sure Harper Will Keep His Quebec City Seats.
The Bloc wave is coming -- it isn't of the tidal variety but things look good for them.
Le Devoir:
...
-
Again, Zachary, and the news in that would be!
We are both perfectly aware that Quebec has not been a major factor since Trudeau. Gone are the days when L...
-
Zachary,
When you're the opposition, you give it the old college try knowing full well that events such as these are not what it takes to get back into po...
-
Zachary,
Not necessarily, stunts like this don't go a long way toward winning the big one but they are a useful tool to help erode some support for the in...
-
Zachary,
Then you would call ours an uphill fight?
-
If Body Language And Tone Of Voice Mean Anything, This Has Got To Be Really Big!
If you haven't already, go check out Question Period. Pay particular attent...
-
Here Comes Another Round Of Ouch...
The Globe and Mail:
"Quebec's governing Liberal Party took donations in cash to get around election finance laws and al...
-
Zachary,
Michael knows what he has to do. He can do it and win or choose to continue on the same course and lose.
-
Zachary,
Of course, your theory is within the realm of the possible. And why do we probably both think this phenomenon is happening to the Liberal Party? ...
-
Futility Forty-Seven Times Over.
Don't pat yourselves too much on the back. Nothing like a nice confab in Washington, D.C. to promote the false illusion o...
-
Zachary,
Thanks for the update!
(And on another note -- this Prime Minister's 51st will be one of the best ever: having already received an early birth...
-
Zachary,
One would think that they would be sufficiently trained regarding the above -- not to mention access to lawyers calling from Calgary...
-
Zachary,
Fun in the federal sun; alleged provincial bums must be rather glum!
-
Zachary,
Well, I think he should have had telephone access to at least one of his two Calgary counsel (even if he had already spoken with an Ontario legal...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps we are dealing with a Calley-type incident, and perhaps not. We have to be extremely careful here and follow the evidence. We don't want ...
-
Zachary,
This reminds me of Bellemare -- you can't shoot off your mouth without having the proof to back it up. I assume Bellemare does but who really kno...
-
If You Don't Know The Meaning Of INCREDIBLY Stupid, Rest Assured You're Not Alone!
To wit: this little gem brought to us by the kind folks over at The Sta...
-
Skip The Funeral.
As they say, discretion is the better part of valour: with the skies across Europe covered in ash and with the inherent difficulties -- so...
-
Shifting Sands.
So much for all that crowing about a Conservative ten-point lead -- in a recent Ipsos Reid poll, which was reported by Canwest News Service:...
-
From Nick Who? to Nick C-L-E-G-G.
Guess what? This won't exactly come as news to any of you but the UK Conservatives aren't exactly wild about the prospect ...
-
Ash: Not Exactly This Government's Friend...
This government seems to have more than its share of volcanic tempers -- sadly, up until now, what it has been ...
-
What Is Charest Thinking?
What I wouldn't give to get into the head of Jean Charest...to find what the spinning wheels are really up to. When at least seven...
-
Consertative Supporter,
As an RCMP supporter, please take a look at Comment 21 over at Threehundredeight .com. Thanks.
threehundredeight.blogspot.com
...
-
Poor Max.
Here's a brief excerpt from Le Devoir concerning Maxime Bernier's short to medium term goal:
A-t-il envie de devenir chef du Parti conservate...
-
Hi Zachary,
You make an interesting point. I doubt we are dealing here with deliberate manipulations -- no reputable polling company would be that stupid....
-
Zachary,
A) Culture wars are not my kind of politics. I don't like that approach;
B) Activism: one has to define the flavour of the ice cream! If it's ...
-
Zachary,
Michael has no choice but to be as tough as nails. He has to get out the whip and the chair...otherwise he will be perceived as not having the ri...
-
Zachary,
I must say that I'm a great fan of your argument around timing and whipping the vote. That would have been a masterstroke -- too bad no one in th...
-
Now Zachary, are you sure you won't entertain returning to the Liberals???
What the hell -- thought I would give it a shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(We co...
-
Still No Word From Milliken.
Will it be tomorrow? Something about this is starting to unsettle my stomach. I have a bad feeling building. I hope I'm wrong.
-
Zachary,
Have read your last two posts. Take it from me: no doubt that you are no longer on battery power. You're at the peak of your game in this cycle. ...
-
Zachary,
Clever deflection by the CPC. But we both know that only complete idiots would play such a dangerous game. Ekos has to be at arms length with its...
-
Zachary,
Pure hard-edged, naked politics along the Rideau and Ottawa rivers. Who would have thought of it...
-
Zachary,
I prefer to regard it as flanking the Maginot Line!
-
So Much For Green Conservative Shoots.
Forget about spring flowers -- much less warm, tender, green Conservative shoots. Did you get a load of the recent le...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Do you think Bernier can spell the word pandering? Just checking...
-
HC In AB,
Glad to get your input. I would remind Canada's leaders that in politics -- as in life -- you make things happen, preferably in a big-way! All pri...
-
Consertative Supporter,
I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't go over to ThreeHundredEight.com to read my comment on the long-gun registry. Fact is, as you...
-
Here's my post at ThreeHundredEight.com:
C O A L I T I O N
for Gun Control / pour le contrôle des armes www.guncontrol.ca
Police shootings in Canada
Offic...
-
Zachary,
Liberals have to hold the political center to win. That is painfully obvious to any seasoned political observer -- much less so to the operative cl...
-
Zachary,
I take your point that some of this alleged Conservative disavowal is probably manufactured but we can both remember back to the bad old days of 20...
-
Zachary,
Agreed on who may or may not be right! Interesting on how Cameron hasn't caught fire...like the guy myself but he seems to have peaked too soon. I...
-
Zachary,
I supported going there but never expected an outright win, as previously discussed. If we went to Afghanistan as an operation aimed at containing ...
-
Remember Zachary, to play the "long game" is to save the long-gun registry. Agree that we may not win in the short term unless Jack's people find reality on ...
-
Zachary,
Agreed that Jaffer-Guergis is not the driving force for political discontent. But look to HC in AB's point which I think makes great political sens...
-
Zachary,
As said elsewhere, Canadian resources have to be redeployed toward counter-terrorism efforts in our own country. The "next" attack may be on Canadi...
-
Zachary,
Will you agree that much depends on the game plan coming out of the OLO? If it's a Liberal-alone strategy aggressively planned and implemented that...
-
Zachary,
Like the UK election, we are on different planets on this one also.
-
Agreed.
-
Zachary,
Goddess Danielle Hamamdjian is reporting on CTV National News that Guergis will not be the candidate next time. Craig Oliver also says that this Pr...
-
What's your impression? I really have no idea. Will Britons, like Canadians, instinctively recoil at the idea?
I'll bet Cameron is praying for that as his H...
-
You forgot wings and a prayer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Sorry, no. But you are right to say it's not a definite but it sure looks like the PMO wind is blowing in that direction. But again, we can't say it's for su...
-
Zachary,
That's where my head was at regarding the Canadian coalition experience and all of us know how well that one turned out...it was a real eye-opener ...
-
Zachary,
No question that reducing the deficit at a quicker pace than originally projected is a net positive for Conservatives. But balance will still be fo...
-
Zachary,
Number One: I can relate to that.
Number Two: I presume her innocent of everything, imagined or soon to be alleged. But my gut tells me that if sh...
-
Hey Zachary,
You've seen Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre, Jr. on TV boasting how GM has paid back its loan five years ahead of schedule.
Same ring, different...
-
Max Bernier Makes It Perfectly Clear, Or Does He?
In an interview with the Radio-Canada program Les coulisses du pouvoir, Maxime Bernier said categorically ...
-
Blackacadian,
Works for me!
-
Prime Minister: You Really Shouldn't Have But I'm Awfully Glad You Did!
What with my birthday only two days away, I have to say that this is probably the fi...
-
Zachary,
Of course I remember that poll. But you're in for one hell of a surprise when or if that poll is eventually broken down by sex!
Get women out to t...
-
Zachary,
The Harper contraception position will do this government no good -- it comes off as an after-thought once the broadside on abortion is factored in...
-
Come on Zachary. Agree with you that they may have been polling but you know them -- they would (and probably have) bulldoze ahead in spite of the polls.
...
-
Zachary,
Do you agree with me that up until now that pro-life women have been far more likely to be active politically than their pro-choice counterparts?...
-
Please Zachary. Put the shoe on the other foot and of course, a Conservative Party opposition in the context of a Liberal minority government would be doing ...
-
Time For Some More Liberal Recalibration...
In Harris/Decima's own words:
The last two weeks finds both the Conservatives and Liberals now below
30%. ...
-
Zachary,
That's all good and well but it doesn't explain both of our continuing dropping numbers.
-
Zachary,
Into one box or into another. Nice piece of work that, tactically speaking.
-
Zachary,
I find your analysis more than reasonable and fair. We will have to wait and see if both our parties continue to deflate to the profit of the NDP...
-
Zachary,
Aren't we saying the same thing?
-
Zachary,
You'll recall how I made hay on more occasions than I can remember about NDP pension MPs (as of this June!). Well, that sounds like a good reason...
-
Peter Milliken Rules Against The Government.
However, the Speaker limits the right of public disclosure related to matters of national security. I'll bet ...
-
Zachary,
We both know that the best defence is a good offense. And that is precisely what this government will do --- one way or another...
-
Zachary,
We're doing the best we can on the fly...
-
Zachary,
Of minor importance will be the art of negotiation (probably at the house leader level). How that goes could be important but again, I can feel t...
-
Zachary,
That is the logical next advanced chess move but don't forget the hidden surprise which this Prime Minister no doubt planned quite some time ago....
-
Zachary,
Let's take it in three parts:
i) Yes, there will be some compromise to national security which will at the very least endanger our soldiers ov...
-
Zachary,
Sometimes it takes quite a few hits on the noggin to get it. (That was the case with me on popular reaction to a possible coalition government unde...
-
Zachary,
If that's the Prime Minister's call, so be it. I have no problem with going to an election.
But quite candidly, that is not a decision I would mak...
-
Zachary,
I'm not offended by your dig. Successful parties tend to have that mindset, particularly after having tasted power.
-
Zachary,
I'm not saying yours isn't a logical approach. I'm simply saying to approach abortion funding in this particular manner -- when all is said and don...
-
Zachary,
I like the second paragraph. That has a lot of mileage in it. Sound argument.
-
Look Zachary, let's be plain about things: this Prime Minister is intent upon out-bluffing the opposition bluffers. I dare you to sink us, the PM suggests. A...
-
Please. Milliken is no dolt. The man has just given up the speakership if the Harper government is returned. That took one hell of a lot of GUTS.
Give him (...
-
Zachary,
Nope. We can replace this government only through a motion of non-confidence. We need an up and down vote with each opposition party biting the bul...
-
Relax, none taken. Nothing personal to you either!
-
Sorry Zachary. You should rephrase: it is one thing to say that Milliken broke the law. That is misguided. It is quite another to say that Milliken misinterp...
-
Zachary,
He who chooses not to pay is likely to ultimately end up paying the price...
-
You don't believe that this is almost mana for us. I guess we'll have to prove you wrong by demonstrating it!
-
We're talking constitutional law here. Pelletier or Franks (or their ilk) can give us the real dope. The rest of us are just guessing...
-
Zachary,
No argument there about walking away. That is a fatal mistake if it becomes protracted. We are awfully close to the line already...is Donolo paying...
-
Zachary,
I gave you my view. That does not mean that I'm right (even if I think I am). That also does not mean that you are wrong. But neither of us practic...
-
Zachary,
Yes, if the present trend continues and it may. But if Michael manages to shake things up with a new twist, who knows?
I guess we'll both have...
-
Zachary,
My standard Stephen Harper joke is that no matter what happens politically or personally to either of us, HE will always be two years OLDER than ...
-
Welcome Back!
I want to thank my Conservative and Liberal friends for joining us once again -- hopefully on a sustained basis.
Things are going to be q...
-
There Sure Seems To Be A Lot Of Dull Knives in Mexico City...
It's one thing to take on Conservatives -- after all they happen to be the government but qu...
-
Zachary,
I'm not blaming anyone. I'm simply saying that when one national government is pissed off at the actions of another (which by the way in our case...
-
Zachary,
Now it's my turn to be on battery power. Hence, the delay in replying.
In my view, as a non-constitutional lawyer, the Constitutional law of Canad...
-
Zachary,
There have to be serious legal consequences for individuals representing any and all parties that are given unredacted access to, for example, Cana...
-
Zachary,
Nice try. This Prime Minister has a negative approval of 48%. He heads the government, right? Michael's negative is at 45% but he still has DOUBLE ...
-
Zachary,
What does that say about the quality of intelligence gathering and political oversight of both DND and FA when government policy and subsequent rea...
-
Hey Stratford Guys,
You've both done an outstanding job but there comes a time in everyone's life where it becomes high time to pass the mantle on to the ne...
-
Zachary,
Then perhaps you will agree with me that it is better to bend into the wind than to stubbornly hold out for 100% of what one wants -- AND BREAK...
-
Zachary,
In a strict legal sense, you are, of course, correct. The Senate and The House of Commons constitute the will of Parliament along with the famously...
-
One more point: with the House of Commons being the only duly elected chamber representing popular sovereignty, one can extrapolate from that fact that it i...
-
But Zachary, were we to form a political cartel for mutual benefit, wouldn't we be quickly broken up by the Anti-combines branch?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
S...
-
Scraping Off The Egg!
I want to extend my apologies to Progressive Conservative Senator Michael A. Meighen who I omitted in a post a while back on resorting...
-
Zachary,
With respect, I admire your proof of flexibility but what you suggest is a sure recipe for an election: Jack and Gilles will never go for that. The...
-
Well, it says that The Globe and Mail on at least one particular issue had a better handle on matters than the Canadian government. That is quite simply asto...
-
Zachary,
That can't and will never happen. It would violate clearly entrenched constitutional convention. Just think back to patriation and the role constit...
-
And that is why we have long been in agreement that a SCC reference can only work to the political advantage of this government. Nothing new there.
-
You are correct. It seems the reference to the national numbers in that post was not related to the latest Ekos poll. Serves me right for not doing a check b...
-
Zachary,
A preliminary fair comment: someone is at least feeling some heat.
Now to the poll itself: it may be a rogue poll or it may be the start of Conser...
-
Zachary,
There is big downside waiting for Michael -- you've seen the polls. Liberals can't afford to strike a unilateral deal with this government when the...
-
Zachary,
The party that develops an efficient thaw mechanism gets to form government. I'll bet you can relate to that.
As much as I admire Jack, he can for...
-
Way To Go Michael!
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has publicly endorsed the notion that Governor General Michaëlle Jean's term should be extended. He join...
-
Zachary,
Careful, you sound like you're about to make a politically fatal mistake! I sense overconfidence building -- and remember that is a weakness rather...
-
Zachary,
You sound like this is a siege mentality. And if it is (against this government) and I'm not prepared at this juncture to say that it is -- then lo...
-
Cameron Is Getting Nasty: Is That Really Smart When Your Numbers Are Rising?
As reported by Reuters:
British polls marred by mudslinging
Brown, Cameron ge...
-
Zachary,
This Prime Minister amazes me: on the one hand, he doesn't want an all-party agreement on Afghan documents -- he wants a Conservative-Liberal coali...
-
Zachary,
Well, to paraphrase a classic:
It's your party's funeral, and you can cry if you want to. Cry if you want to...
You know how well it went w...
-
Zachary,
You sound like a Conservative looking frantically for any "excuse", legitimate or otherwise, not to reach an all-party agreement. Now that's what...
-
Zachary,
We'll see just how "weak" we are when the three parties line up to hit this one right out of the park.
-
Zachary,
Put down the marker or else prepare to be smeared in black ink!!!
-
Zachary,
Wow! What a revelation: spending all day looking at ink blots. Personally, I prefer watching grass grow...
-
Zachary,
You aren't gloating before the fact are you?
You know me. I'm sticking to my guns and will ride my prediction in whatever direction it goes.
...
-
Zachary,
Then it should come as quite a shock, shouldn't it.
-
Zachary,
Remember how the clowns are known for firing off cannons...
-
Zachary,
Didn't you get the clowns' memo? What goes down, can quickly go up. And what is up -- well, somewhat up, can suddenly go south.
Just watch. Yo...
-
Centennial of the Canadian Navy!
Minus the participation of the Commander-in-Chief of Canada...
What gives?
-
Zachary,
Wow. And all this time I thought we were all under the impression that this Prime Minister was nothing more forceful than a big pussycat!
-
Zachary,
Here's the new approach I'll soon be "recommending": put in an order for a batch of harps. Next, get your hot little hands on a hymn book, pronto.
...
-
Zachary,
All I can say is that if she was, Michael would consider it an honour to be in her presence, as would many other Canadians, including yours truly.
-
Zachary,
Don't forget Tuesday's game!
-
Zachary,
As you know, I wasn't quite up to these gentlemen's level. Obviously!
-
Zachary,
I guess that means this Prime Minister is planning to come across. Good judgment on his part.
-
Thanks. If it's a go, it will likely push the next election to the fall.
-
Zachary,
Here is the Live BBC News page. Things get underway in less than two hours!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/default.stm
-
last part is: default.stm
-
Zachary,
No. Drowning in surplus work. But thanks for the heads up. Will check it out later.
For now, work continues as I watch (and mostly listen) to ...
No Post Budget Bounce for Tories (Nanos Poll Completed March 12th 2010) (2010-03-16)
-
QCG,
I won't rehash all our internal Liberal shit again. But I will state what I said recently: much will depend on what comes out of the Montreal Confere...
-
Guys,
The higher the undecided, the more it's self-evident that the parties are not doing their work properly to bring these people over. Are we going to ...
-
Zachary,
That's the wonderful thing about being leader: you get to decide things, to take positions, come up with masterful tactics or make errors in judg...
-
Heasmit,
Unlike your husband, perhaps you're unaware that I left the Conservative Party because of their previous attempt at eliminating the taxpayer subsid...
-
Thanks Allan!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I happen to really be that full of myself and presumptuous to reprise my list of future federal party leaders. In l...
-
Tom,
Excellent analysis. This government's majority if it happens (and I seriously doubt that it will - after four years and counting it should have happe...
-
Zachary,
Let's cut through the bull...your numbers are shit and so are ours! Yes, ours are worse than yours but we aren't the sitting government. Zachary,...
-
Bernie,
Brad Wall is the only other premier with roses at his feet!
-
Zachary,
If this government is eventually re-elected, Conservatives will make a monkey out of me. If not,...!!!
-
Hey Zachary,
I'm rather disappointed. I was sure you would want to weigh in on the next leader for each of the federal parties. I find it strange that you...
-
Remember Zachary, how many times have you already told us that the next Liberal leader is Bob Rae. I hope your talents at prognostication are better than tha...
-
Zachary,
Thanks. Look forward to your input after lunch. (See you around two o'clock.)
-
Tom,
As you say, the proof will be in the pudding -- and particularly in the eating!
The MC is regarded as a non-partisan event, even though many of th...
-
Heasmit,
I won't repeat myself but it's entirely possible that several parties stuffed the pipeline full of 10-percenters ahead of the "deadline", were it...
-
Zachary,
You neglected to give us your views on the future CONSERVATIVE leadership race and its possible contestants. Presume you are planning to post a s...
-
Zachary,
Impressive analysis, thank you.
Here's my take on it:
CPC: In the race besides Solberg, I expect to see Prentice for sure. Moore is interes...
-
Zachary,
One more thing and you'll think I'M CRAZY for saying it but here it goes: Stock has been the most solid minister in cabinet. He has really had hi...
-
Zachary,
In French we have a saying: mon homme de confiance. That fits Stock to a tee and it shows how much confidence this Prime Minister has in him in s...
-
Zachary,
Well said. Here's my view on Lord and why I wouldn't put him in the same category as Solberg: I think it's legitimate to say that things did not ...
-
Zachary,
Let's call this the conventional wisdom -- and it may very well turn out to be correct.
-
Zachary,
MacKay is another interesting case study: so burned by the MacKay-Orchard agreement prior to the merger, it was no surprise when he chose not to ...
-
Tom,
I'm with you except for cabinet solidarity -- that is essential in any government. Michael Chong is a case in point: when he adamently did not agree ...
-
Zachary,
With Harper, agreed unless he loses. Then he goes even more quickly (within a month or so);
With Ignatieff, again, not being wild about Donolo...
-
Zachary,
Until we entered stalemate alley (how long has it been?), I was prepared to put my money on the inevitability of a clear and DECISIVE win. That w...
-
Zachary,
With respect, I wonder. We both know that the law and order crowd sees much of this as toughness (in the Canadian context), standing firm in spit...
-
Zachary,
What would be the point of Montreal were we intent on a rehash? I can live with it on the margins, and I do mean margins, but to go with same old...
-
Careful Zachary, you are misinterpreting my position: the Liberals WILL hold the smoking gun for the period from 2001-2005 -- no ifs, ands or buts about it. ...
-
Zachary,
Fair enough but again, we aren't that stupid.
-
Tom,
Too many prime ministers and other leaders confuse the message with the messenger. I agree with you but some MPs are known for their controversial fr...
-
Zachary,
I would call it a step forward in the right direction but I also agree with you that it will serve little purpose to bombard constitutents in so-...
-
Zachary,
You remember my argument in favour of Liberal Privy Councillors presently sitting in the House of Commons. I still think a lot of grief could hav...
-
Zachary,
I expect this goverment to go by way of reference to the Supreme Court of Canada. And we both know how that is likely to end up: national securit...
-
Abortion: The Issue That Will Sting This Prime Minister.
Here we go again...the pattern continues with one significant step forward in favour of women's a...
-
Zachary,
To my mind, that area is far more dicey for this government. I seriously doubt that the court would want to intervene in what transpires inside t...
-
Zachary,
I agree with Spector and you that national security matters, in the narrow sense, in its strictest constructs, are not questions that can be exam...
-
Zachary,
Think out of the box Zachary. If this is really a go, add Broadbent and swear him into the Privy Council (if he is not already a member) and pron...
-
Zachary,
Doer is a no-go. Already has a big job and by taking it, is officially tied to this government.
-
Zachary,
I think you made that "crystal clear", as Nixon used to say...
-
But Zachary, in this narrow instance, is it really the role of the SCC?
Does the bench really want to stoop so low (sorry but that's the reality) as to poli...
-
Zachary,
We Liberals are many things -- sometimes extremely slow on the uptake but we aren't brain dead, no matter what The Globe and Mail thinks...this Pri...
-
QCG,
I don't want to overgeneralize (remember I came from there) but there is a small element who really think that way. But that's not most Conservatives. ...
-
Bernie,
Forgive me for throwing religion into the mix but here it goes: when I think of matters of conscience, Sir Thomas More comes to mind. He died becaus...
-
QCG,
Someone must be looking fondly back on the time when all he really had to worry about was successfully piloting the Alliance ship...
-
Zachary,
Well and truly covered previously -- and much appreciated! Your frank views made for a very interesting (and even highly enjoyable) exchange of opi...
-
Go, Nancy, Go!
3:30 P.M. (Eastern) is the magic hour. The first vote will be on health care itself. Then will come two budget votes (one of which will inclu...
-
QCG,
My cousins in Florida are right-wing Conservatives. They don't like Obama and should be chewing on nails by around 4, 4:30!
-
Bernie,
I think your idea works when dealing with MPs who put representative government first. That's about 2 MPs...remember how very few floor crossers, if...
-
Zachary,
Please read my post again. Quite obviously, you didn't get it right the first time.
-
QCG,
My brother Dan marched in the parade carrying the O'Dowd banner. For that reason, my mother and I decided to go -- we arrived prior to the start only t...
-
Can A Deal Get Done On Afghan Detainees?
All political Ottawa is buzzing wondering if a deal can be done on the release of documents pertaining to alleged t...
-
Guys,
Even over-the-top rhetorical flourishes by Gilles Duceppe or anyone else -- will not get Quebec any closer to sovereignty. Fifty years and counting an...
-
QCG,
You more than anyone else knows that politics is the art of the possible. We're on a roll with 10-percenters as the big winners. If we give a little, w...
-
QCG,
Don't want to burst your bubble but I supported both Meech and Charlottetown. You won't find that surprising coming from a former Progressive Conservat...
-
QCG,
It's nice to have this Prime Minister in Vancouver tending to other business. Although the guy is known for multi-tasking, personally I like it best wh...
-
QCG,
Are you like me? Can you just smell the Prorogation II smoking gun? I want a deal so we can get through the paperwork, particularly post 2007 when the ...
-
QCG,
I found out this morning that the city forced the organizers to move up the starting time to 11:00 A.M. because of the Red Bull Crushed Ice race.
...
-
Zachary,
Most of the pro-lifers are not in fact Liberals. They are Conservative Democrats including southern Blue Dogs, but not limited to them. They come...
-
Zachary,
The Bloc is both panicked and desperate. Hence, the stupidity of the remarks.
As for the Liberals, we like to let cooler heads prevail. We do ...
-
Zachary,
I'm on deadline so I'll make this quick. First, the Bloc is desperate as regards sovereignty only -- we both know that they remain at the top of ...
-
Zachary,
If the Lord himself came down and declared himself pro-life, that would have only a certain effect on voters. Canadians by a considerable margin ...
-
Zachary,
I'm vague this morning. Please refresh my memory. Are we talking about Ipsos-Reid (?) for Global National? Thanks.
-
Zachary,
Let's put it this way. That's not even remotely how I would have worded the motion. Far too political and the strident tone...seesh.
-
Zachary,
About to leave for dinner so have a moment to squeeze you in! (no offense intended). Most assuredly, I read all your posts and comment regularly ...
-
Zachary,
Frankly, Duceppe's performance is nothing more than a cheap theatrical sideshow -- some Conservatives may think they can use it as a pretext -- o...
-
Zachary,
To a degree they may but remember this: our Prime Minister and his party love this country just as much as the rest of us federalists. The PM wil...
-
Zachary,
I don't go for that type of association and neither does my leader, especially when he is compared to Bush...
-
Zachary,
Let see, truthful MPs -- isn't that a non sequitur!?
Please. Neither of us fell off the turnip truck yesterday...
-
Zachary,
I won't bet a dime on what Milliken might do. To my mind, it really is up in the air. I doubt Michael has any clue either.
-
Zachary,
We may be offended when we hear it but we did not mean to offend when we ourselves posted. Is that not correct? My Nixon item was merely meant to...
-
Zachary,
I always say in politics, go with your best card -- but remember Zachary, this ain't exactly an ace -- at least not from my biased perspective...
-
Le club des ex sur RDI.
I watch this every noon hour on weekdays -- you should have seen the sparks fly today regarding Gilles Duceppe's remarks! Fortunat...
-
Zachary,
Quite obviously, strongly held. But come on Zachary, this Prime Minister will never let it get that far -- no PM will allow for a contempt of Par...
-
Zachary,
It was good but don't have time to go into it. But like your favourite wine, it will get even better with age -- around 12:30 P.M. tomorrow!
-
Zachary,
The following is blunt, probably more blunt than ever before but it's neither meant as a putdown or an insult. If you don't believe me, just take...
-
Today's Helpful Hint!
Get real and make the deal.
-
Zachary,
If you like humour, you'll absolutely "love" this:
You write: "Not a chance, with the Liberals, NDP and Bloc acting in that manner and as Cana...
-
Zachary,
My guess: no, and no.
-
Zachary,
I never thought you would underestimate the resilency of Canada -- remember, we are the only major economic power, to my knowledge, who has never...
-
Zachary,
If this Prime Minister finds the ongoing so-called political "shenanigans" unacceptable, let him put his money where his mouth is and ask for a d...
-
Extraordinary Caucus Meeting.
Something tells me we aren't moving toward a deal...
-
Zachary,
Right. Tell me another one.
Budget Unlikely to Significantly Impact Currrent National Political Situation (Nanos/Policy Options Poll) (2010-03-15)
-
Tom,
When I was still a Conservative, I suggested in an e-mail to the PMO that the Council of the Federation should become an official federal body with t...
-
Bernie,
Rember the 11th Commandment: He that raiseth taxes does not get re-elected!! It's as simple as that...
-
QCG,
Thanks for the update. I look forward to see what comes out of the non-partisan thinkers in Montreal. Thinking out of the box is what will propel us ba...
-
Tom,
I don't hold out much hope for my suggestion: we both know how the Prime Minister has to hold sway over...! I doubt he can do that either consistently ...
-
QCG,
And Jean Charest was seen by many as not having much of a chance should he actually have any such intentions...but his odds would likely be excellent c...
-
Democratic Reform And Renewal Of Our Parliamentary Institutions.
Canadians would be far better off if our archaic parliamentary system was brought into the ...
-
Lieberal Brand,
With a handle like that, you start right off the bat with a considerable disadvantage -- you immediately strike us as a Conservative on the ...
-
Lieberal Brand,
How can you be so sure? Unless you happen to have spies in the other parties...oh excuse me, perish the thought.
-
Lieberal Brand,
If O'Dowd was rich would he actually be doing THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I must really love ...
-
Why Helena Guergis Is Going Nowhere.
I've stopped keeping track of how many Conservative cabinet ministers I've argued in the past should be replaced. Somet...
-
Bernie,
I understand your argument but I doubt that in this area that a business perspective can do any harm with regard to reforming our institutions.
-
Zachary,
Put another way which will undoubtedly make you smile, he may not know it quite yet but Bob Fife is about to eat them words spoken last night on ...
-
Zachary,
It's also my impression that under Martin that there wasn't enough time for substance -- only show was put into motion, avant le déluge.
-
Not To Be A Hypocrite...Here's The Deal: I Caved.
Just got a call from a Quebec Liberal Party volunteer asking me to renew my membership. Told the gentlem...
-
Zachary,
In this as in all things: context, perspective, and especially nuance -- remember whose actions ALLEGEDLY flushed AIG down the can barely avoidin...
-
Zachary,
Quoting Conservative sources, he said rather unequivocally that Guergis will not be in cabinet for much longer. I think he said something about a...
-
Zachary,
I get your point and it makes sense if we look at this politically. But I prefer another tact, I want more seats out West to reflect the populati...
-
Zachary,
I guess this means that the Prime Minister is really an "old softie". I hope word doesn't leak out -- I wouldn't want the Conservatives to earn t...
-
LOL.
But remember Zachary, this Prime Minister EARNED IT by failing Media Tactics 101 just like Trudeau, Mulroney and Chrétien did before him.
-
Zachary,
I notice that you don't have Pablo on the list in Honoré-Mercier. Interesting.
However, a couple of ridings are repeated twice.
-
Zachary,
I tossed it in because his margin went up substantially last time but was more neck and neck in 2006 (if memory serves). Quite obviously, whateve...
-
Zachary,
My only prediction is that André Arthur is likely to be beaten in Portneuf whether or not the CPC follows its previous strategy and does not run ...
Anxiety about Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan (Nanos Policy Options Poll) (2010-03-01)
-
What Worry About The CPP...
Come on folks, chill. Don't be a bunch of nervous Nellies as Chrétien used to say. The CPP is in as good a shape as your avera...
-
Dear Industry Canada,
I'm still waiting for a reply to my letter, sent to the Minister's Office. An update in short order might be a good idea. Thanks.
...
-
Zachary,
At least now we know who is the only guy in Canada who hasn't (yet?) seen the light. Here's a friendly piece of advice: in your case, please keep c...
-
Zachary,
I'm sure you'll agree with me that an acknowledgment of the problem which I've raised is hardly too much to ask for in the way of a response. Must ...
-
It's Called Leadership.
Quite evidently, in light of yesterday's events in Ottawa, this concept has escaped the upper ranks of both the Liberal and New De...
-
Bernie,
Thanks for your input. Your take on things is very interesting. But respectfully, I have to disagree with your assessment of the New Democrats. Ja...
-
Zachary,
I agree with you that to win leadership, you have to show 'em what you're made of and more importantly, where you want to take 'em...the Michael ...
-
Zachary,
I, too wish Jack only the best but to my mind, and I could be wrong, there is really no problem here: if Jack has to take a pass in the next camp...
-
Zachary,
I'm all for subtle niceties on an ordinary government bill -- but to choose to token vote against the budget is nothing short of sheer folly. It ...
-
Bernie,
Thanks for setting me straight. I think politicians badly need to lead but like you, I don't think Canadians have to resort to being sheep either.
-
Zachary,
I agree that a coronation is not the way to go. What I was suggesting was merely an exercise to temporaily fill the leadership void should Jack b...
-
Zachary,
Perhaps the same thing will happen again when we get to the fall!
-
Time To Outflank The Flanker!
This Prime Minister is prouder than a peacock -- he believes that he has finally found containment on the Afghan detainee is...
-
Zachary,
Why the hell not! But to do so, I have to introduce a point first:
Point O) - Do you really expect me to believe that the master tactician would h...
-
Prominent Female Symbols: Opaque In Ottawa Under Harper.
O Canada, our home and native land...ah forget it, that's one just didn't do the trick. What to do ...
-
Zachary,
Moving straight to Point 3) - I'm not so hopelessly partisan that I can't speak tactically for the "enemy": time to get real here -- of course, thi...
-
Zachary,
You don't seem to think that pushing this will have any legs. I beg to differ. I guess we'll both have to wait and see how it plays out with Canadi...
-
Zachary,
We all go somewhat bonkers when we have serious personal problems. That's my position on it, as you know.
This was not a case of ministerial ...
-
Zachary,
Persichilli misses the point. It's FAR from a given that we would lose. Remember, if we are consistently five or less points behind, we can more ...
-
Donald,
This Prime Minister wants a full public inquiry. Why? Because he thinks back to a case in point -- remember when Mulroney was going to be there "w...
-
Oops, that should read collateral. Sorry.
-
Zachary,
As a FYI, I'm for changes via a parliamentary committee (preferably Heritage) but not in favour of going back to archaic wording.
-
Donald,
First, let me get it immediately on the record that Chrétien was dead wrong to shut down the Somalia Inquiry. Sure, the regiment was disbanded but...
-
Zachary,
Ain't politics a gas sometimes! Better than an episode of the late As the World Turns...
-
Zachary,
You must never say never. But agreed, it's highly unlikely as the chess pieces presently stand on the board.
-
Donald,
1) If ministerial responsibility is applicable definitely but as we both know in practice, that seldom happens. But a young man died so it should ...
-
Agreed. No upside for Michael but less downside.
-
Zachary,
I don't know if it will play out that way: remember that Dr. Johnston was given the mandate to determine the terms of reference re: the Mulroney ...
-
Zachary,
The interesting point for this government will be the following: this Prime Minister and Defence Minister saw that the previous Liberal governmen...
-
Zachary,
One can never be ENTIRELY sure of what happened on one's own watch. There are simply too many actors, too many variables. Screwups happen -- even...
-
Zachary,
Perfect questions for a full public inquiry. My sense of it based on intuition only is that one government would never give a heads up to an inco...
-
Zachary,
Thanks. As discussed previously, I think we both agree that legitimate (and there's the rub!) national security considerations always trump parli...
-
Afghan Detainees: Expect The Public Inquiry Announcement Within Days.
Quite frankly, I'm shocked to see how quickly this situation is spiraling out of contr...
-
As Proud As Can Be!
I have to say that I was mightily impressed as I watched coverage of the Governor General's visit to Haiti. The GG put on a brave fron...
-
Zachary,
A tactical response if ever I read one! One hell of a potentially interesting deflection should the PM pick it up.
-
Zachary,
Respectfully, IMHO, it's more of a quicksand ballet. Remember, Harper got in the first time with 36%. If I was in the Prime Minister's shoes, the...
-
Zachary,
A tactical suggestion of my own: perhaps she can be persuaded to sit as a Conservative senator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Zachary,
Actually, no. Here's the way I would push the Liberal strategy: take it as a given that the Martin and Chrétien governments will take a hit (espe...
-
Zachary,
You have a fine mind, one that is adept at grasping the obvious. Better stop here.
-
Zachary,
Agree with you that only two parties can form government. Once that premise is taken care of, do we both agree that they can't both continue to d...
-
Zachary,
This thing could break either way -- in favour of the opposition or the government. That's what will keep it exciting but I have to admit that yo...
-
Not you! Have a nice lunch, I know I will.
-
Zachary,
I have no quarrel with any government being held accountable for their respective roles. That's fair game in my book. As a result, the plot will co...
-
Zachary,
As the other shoe drops, most credible media outlets will have no choice but to report it otherwise they can't pretend that their reporting is bo...
-
Zachary,
I remain confident that the Prime Minister will go with a full-fledged public inquiry. Especially, now that Liberal-affecting "leaks" are likely ...
-
Zachary,
The more this thing explodes out in the open, the happier I'll be. Time for a good clear out. Again, it's time for all governments to finally own...
-
Zachary,
Please think out of the box on this one! Everything is relative as to how Canada will conduct its defence and foreign policy from this point forw...
-
Think about it Zachary: some "players": a sovereignist party that can make hay but will gain little to nothing on the ground in Quebec. At best a wash for th...
-
What A Joke: Ottawa True To Form Once Again.
And then they wonder why politicians are considered by many people as nothing more than laughing stocks...I g...
-
A Personal Note For The Prime Minister.
Dear Stephen,
I want to applaud you for going where no prime minister has gone before and agreeing to stream yo...
-
Bernie,
I doubt most of his constituents favour the commercial seal hunt but I could be wrong. Another thing Bernie, when was the last time that a senator...
-
Here We Go Again...
I think that Nanos readers are doing a tremendous disservice to our political parties by not speaking truth to power, be it on the gov...
-
Zachary,
Of course, my comments aren't directed at you. Sorry if you thought otherwise. But let's face it, a lot of people would rather like to see the bi...
-
Zachary,
The only thing waiting for me in Ottawa is a right cross...I think that just about sums up things nicely.
-
Bernie,
Sorry, my comments were meant for you either. I should have factored in the "regulars" on this blog before framing my argument.
-
Bernie,
Oh God. What a long week -- that should read weren't meant for you...
-
Zachary,
Quite frankly, until the platform is up and running, the best that can be done perception-wise is tinkering on the margins -- but that is not my ...
-
Zachary,
Think of what this Prime Minister would have done under such a scenario: pulled the rug right out from under the "interim" Liberal leader and gon...
-
Zachary,
Why don't we ask him on YouTube next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-
Zachary,
One more point: anyone who knows anything about John Manley knows that he plays to win. The guy won't run a leadership campaign that can be nothi...
-
Zachary,
If we hadn't made a mistake or two, we'd be in government as we speak. I think that just about sums it up...
-
Zachary,
Next time you start thinking of a whopper -- forget hamburgers and think back to the LPC post 2006...
-
Bernie,
All I can say is that now that I'm slowly winding down my political involvement for the second time in a row (in the second federal political party)...
-
Zachary,
Thanks. I'm off to take a look. If it really strikes my fancy, I will comment on it.
-
Zachary,
Having come from the Progressive Conservatives, one of the first things I noticed after the merger was that the Alliance members were not, by and l...
-
QCG,
Too bad this Prime Minister doesn't favour an extremely prudent and wise political "double standard" -- you might have an idea what I mean: one tight-f...
-
QCG,
You know how it is in politics -- with the heart going one way and the gut another. The heart is hoping against hope that I'm full of shit but the gut ...
-
Whistling In The Wind: The Martin and Harper Way!
Canadians may be surprised to discover that the Liberals of yesterday along with the Conservatives of toda...
-
And I Thought Hockey Was The Favourite Sport Of The Harper Government.
I'm confused. (Some will say this is hardly the first time but I digress.) After all ...
-
QCG,
The House can only do so much. Most of the time, the executive does nothing more than collectively yawn -- and that is a major mistake on their part. I...
-
Zachary,
That is possible but we will never know will we. The point here is that fighters fight. They make things happen even under difficult circumstances....
-
Zachary,
This post really amuses me. You fault the Liberals for not inquiring from 2002-06 but you're not about to say the same thing about a full blown inq...
-
Zachary,
They may give one game ball to the Liberals but another one will also be bestowed upon the Conservatives. Each party will bear responsibility for w...
-
Zachary,
Come on. I have many playmates across party lines. That's why we're so good together!
-
Zachary,
It has been my experience that Conservatives like to get their damage in early. For some strange reason, Liberals also prefer to follow that same c...
-
Zachary,
I know next to nothing about criminal law but I do know which level of government is in charge of prosecution of alleged offenders. If the public d...
-
Zachary,
Are you deliberately twisting my meaning or do you truly not understand what I meant. Let's try again shall we? When I said it (the explanation) ...
-
Zachary,
Ha! Ha! Yes, your position is perfectly reasonable as long as no further allegations of torture come out on the Conservative watch. Correct me if...
-
Zachary,
Why would I mention the Syrians? Everyone agrees that rendition took place while Martin was in office. Why bother stating the obvious.
-
Zachary,
Understood.
-
Zachary,
It's a Monday...I thought I would make your day by telling you that one of my brothers has fallen in love with the Conservatives -- all over agai...
-
Zachary,
Pretty sure this wasn't Donolo's idea. (Never thought I'd actually say that!)
-
Zachary,
Thank you. And by sticking to said principles Ottawa should be giving me a wide berth for say, the next twenty years! First, the CPC, now the LPC...
-
Dear Party Leaders,
Now, perk up your ears! I'm only going to offer this free advice ONCE -- are you ready?
"THINK, TWICE."
No need to thank me. It ...
-
Zachary,
Something is funny here. At first blush one would think that the Conservative government may be in the clear post 2006.
But then comes the rub...
Canadians believe PMO has too much power, House of Commons not enough power (Nanos Poll Completed February 8) (2010-02-24)
-
Hi Tom,
Just call me a "mini" Douglas (guts personified) Harkness (one of my political heroes)! George Hees and Pierre Sévigny are perfect examples of how t...
-
Tom,
With the deepest respect for the views outlined in your excellent post, I cannot agree with your position on the Supreme Court of Canada. Unfortunately...
-
Zachary,
Come on. Do you actually believe that Canadians will use crime issues as their litmus test in determining which party to support in the next electi...
-
Donald,
Any good general knows what to do: you take the war to the enemy and you don't particularly care what you have to do to win it. It's not important h...
-
Zachary,
I haven't changed since May. I was for an election in May and am even more in favour now. But I don't get to decide. I like the upcoming political ...
-
Zachary,
Does it not strike you as passing strange that the leader of the party that happens to form Canada's present government commands only the support o...
-
Zachary,
Resorting to partisan insults...check my post again. You won't find any smears there. A helpful lesson for you. No need to thank me.
-
Hollinm,
Agreed. God knows I'm living proof that this Prime Minister is many things, but first a democrat.
-
Donald,
Please don't pretend that General Harper is not of the same mind as Generals Ignatieff, Layton, Duceppe or May. This isn't tiddlywinks.
You know i...
-
Hollinm,
All opposition leaders are strongly in favour of virtue. All Prime Ministers can't wait to get down and dirty and do the deed. Once they're in, the...
-
Zachary,
Please tell you Dad that that script has been used before. And it wasn't that effective the first time.
You don't have to like how I call them. Di...
-
Tom,
Well, sometimes Charest goes overboard (as in his recent remarks) but at least he knows how to kick federal ass when it becomes both obvious and NECESS...
-
Donald,
I will agree with you on Harper IF he manages to pull off at least one majority. Until then, forget it.
Governance is, in and of itself neither bad...
-
Tom,
Again, can't agree. Please answer this one for me: are you suggesting (and perhaps you are not) that when the SCC declares a statute ultra vires (uncon...
-
Zachary,
Do I think Charest will be forced to soften to California standards? Yes I do. Do I expect the U.S. and Canadian governments to adopt the Californi...
-
Zachary,
Strange that you would consider it a pissing contest. I consider it legitimate reasonably civil debate. But if you're not up for it, that's fine. S...
-
They Remembered To Pass Harper The ASA.
Nice to see the Prime Minister in Vancouver again encouraging our athletes...from what I can tell, there is no major...
-
Zachary,
In essence, what you are suggesting is that given the polling map at the moment, momentum lies with the Conservatives going into the next campaign....
-
Zachary,
Nice line!
-
Zachary,
That's more than fair. With present polling and momentum, I don't see it in the cards as the situation now stands in February.
-
Zachary,
I find that link rather tenuous but all I can say to Westerners is, whatever floats your boat. We in Quebec know how to play the game domestically ...
-
Zachary,
You misunderstand me. As a citizen, Stephen Harper is MY Prime Minister having formed MY Canadian federal government. HE IS the head of government,...
-
Zachary,
This would be my advice to the Prime Minister: whenever we have an election, if Harper gets in again with another minority, he becomes by default, ...
-
Hollinm,
Sorry for the delay in replying but I was watching the PM on CTV and WE AGREE that Canada will win tonight!!!!!!!! (I suppose there is a first time...
-
Zachary,
What a crock of shit! Nice try though.
P.S. Just so you know, I was across the table from Bob on Thursday.
You really kill me -- being able to pr...
-
Donald,
He loses effective control under a third minority mandate. That will be the nature of the beast. He will, for all intents and purposes, have little ...
-
The Budget: Stay Tuned For "Uncle Scrooge" Government.
I don't know about you but nothing warms this SOB's heart as much as the pending unraveling of the Ha...
-
Zachary,
How damned considerate of you. Remember Zachary, the biggest casualties are likely to be the "givens" in politics. Worth considering, don't you think?
-
Zachary,
Let's take this one up again after Montreal, assuming that we actually have an opportunity to get there. You know this Prime Minister. No person ca...
-
Zachary,
Will be signing off now. Going to plunge through a few chapters of Game Change. Enjoying it immensely (almost as much as each of us sticking it to ...
-
Zachary,
We both know it was a trade off to get the provinces to swallow the Charter. Trudeau would probably have preferred to spend a year at the dentist b...
-
Zachary,
For a party with "no air in [our] tires", funny that we've managed to make it fifteen (15) points past our low point!
-
Zachary,
The authors are John Heilemann and Mark Halperin and it's an absolute must for any self-respecting U.S. political junkie.
-
Zachary,
So now we are adding a little red herring to those red mittens...look, let's speak plainly -- the court is not there to decide in the place of Cana...
-
Tom,
But does not the SCC's interpretation amount to some form of judicial activism? I think so, but I could be wrong.
-
Zachary,
Will you at least agree that it's fair to speculate that post-Montreal, once part of the future platform is in place, that that will have some posi...
-
Zachary,
Judicial activism must be done responsibly. It should be an exceptional measure dealing with a pressing or urgent national concern. At least, that ...
-
Zachary,
And when Parliament errs in law and fails to address it in a timely manner?
-
Zachary,
Good thing Stockwell wasn't on the Niagara River at the time or it might likely have turned out a hell of a lot worse. (I just couldn't resist that...
-
Tom,
I would suggest that we have no abortion law in Canada precisely because of the Supreme Court's intervention. Without it...? To my mind, that was an ac...
-
Bernie,
I will be about as candid as possible with you. I want as big a hook as possible to get at the Harper government. I don't care where I find it. If i...
-
Zachary,
If you guys are so fired up about Liberal-appointed judges, please be my guest and dissolve Parliament. Run on it as part of your law and order pro...
-
Zachary,
You are wrong there. If the Pink Poka Dot Party was the government and deliberately abdicating its responsibilities on important national priorites...
-
Zachary,
Agree on rigorous costing and also that no party can afford to go hog wild. Present economic realities will bite any party in the ass that foolishl...
-
Zachary,
No doubt the head of state's next rep is in complete agreement with you. (I couldn't resist that one either.)
-
Hollinm,
As a former journalist, I can say that I've never yet met a journalist incapable of thinking. What does that mean? It means no one who is even mild...
-
Zachary,
I don't know Zachary. I could live with term limits but you know how the government feels about subsidies. I certainly don't want justices trolling...
-
Zachary,
NOPE. Martin gets to wear it but so does Harper post 2006. You may not have noticed but four years have gone by without him being repatriated to Ca...
-
Zachary,
Right now, this PM pulls the string and that's fine by me. He leads the government and has a perfect right to fill the vacancies. Ditto for Senate ...
-
Come on, please. The court did not pronounce itself on repatriation. It merely stated that Khadr's Charter rights were violated and asked the government to t...
-
Zachary,
How did I know ahead of time that you would widely skate around this one (how's that for an Olympic metaphor)??!!
Enjoy the game. This may be the ...
-
Zachary,
Let me know after the game and my subsequent shopping trip for groceries and I'll be pleased to oblige. Later.
-
Hollinm,
With respect, that is too wide a generalization. When the politicians and those of us who work to advance their respective causes get down in the...
-
Zachary,
No doubt the OLO will have more to say on this shortly.
-
Yes Zachary, from what I've been told, your impression appears to be bang on. But that's as far as I can go at this time.
-
Zachary,
The one who should not be named is she. There is no he. The joke relates to the he but otherwise, he is not involved. Is that OK?
-
Hollinm,
On Helena, my view is compassion has to be the order of the day. We've all had difficult moments in our own personal lives and that should be rem...
-
Hollinm,
No offense taken. I hate crap like that whether it favours my party, the Conservatives or any other party. Only an idiot would say x votes y beca...
-
Donald,
Do you really have to be at the game or even watch it on television to clearly establish your bona fides as a red-blooded Canadian? I think Conser...
-
Donald,
All things considered, our federal parties will be waiting for the next batch of polls with baited breath -- and in this case, I would hardly call...
-
Zachary,
You sure seem to be busy being both judge and jury. But remember that you're pretty much wasting your time: this government won't agree to repatria...
-
Zachary,
Too bad we aren't talking about Scots Law: if there was ever a case of "not proved", this is it...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"...
Canadians split on impression of political groups on Facebook; many uncertain (Nanos Poll Completed February 8) (2010-02-18)
-
Branchez-vous, maudits électeurs.
That just about sums up my feelings. What the hell is going on? When you look at Ekos and see for the past month and a h...
-
Zachary,
Interesting breakdown. Thanks. I will go out on a limb and venture a guess that we're in for a protracted period of good old fashioned World War ...
-
Quebec Francophones: Still Uncertain As To Which Way To Go.
Former Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard is widely known for a number of things -- some more flatte...
-
Consertative Supporter,
I'll say one thing for you: you're still a pistol! We both know that French is the eighth language in Vancouver. That being said, we...
-
Novadog,
Are you with me? I happen to love and respect the Americans. I just don't care to become one of them. When the United States is at its finest, no o...
-
Consertative Supporter,
Remember, I live where Canadian history was decided. The English (as they then were) won on the Plains of Abraham but lost TWICE to ...
-
Consertative Supporter,
You would deny this Prime Minister, the guy who got the West "in" the beginnings of his Triple-E-Senate? Harper is intent on embark...
-
Consertative Supporter,
If you're to apply that standard to the Senate, you also have to apply it to the House of Commons -- not to mention the BC and other...
-
Consertative Supporter,
We sure agree on Latin America. I'm looking at the new ETF but I haven't bought so far. My best stock is Tag Oil: 500% profit, so...
Nanos Leadership Index: Harper still strong (Nanos Poll Completed February 8th, 2010) (2010-02-15)
-
dgkfghlgjkgla,
Wow! What a handle. Remember, the leadership index in the final analysis is meaningless. Just think back to 2006 when the Conservatives wer...
-
Zachary Smith,
I think none of the leaders is sufficiently trusted to win an election under this matrix. I could be wrong but I would also suggest that Jo...
-
"Going" Conservative...
To pull, or not to pull, that is the Conservative question! I'll bet you dollars to donuts that the next two polls will be instrum...
-
Zachary Smith,
Now there's the rub in being the opposition: by necessity, you have to come up with a platform -- you can start slowly and cost; or you can...
-
Zachary Smith,
Once an olive branch is proffered, it's often in one's own interest to take hold of it. This government sees things differently. It will be...
-
I would remind readers that we remain in a two-year cycle whose main theme continues to be "Making Parliament Work" -- that was the message delivered by the ...
-
Zachary,
With respect, I admire your suggestions but the PMO is control-freak central. That is not this Prime Minister's fault alone. It goes all the way ba...
-
Zachary,
Agreed that if the Environics poll is a "one-only", we are indeed in the middle of a political stalemate. I suspect that is not the case but we wil...
-
Hollinm,
Why am I not surprised to hear that your ads are ready to go. Conservatives are many things -- including always organized for battle!
You give me...
-
Hollinm,
No, amending the constitution is nothing but a can of worms. Besides, we have 13 solitudes in Canada -- not just 2...we have to integrate Quebec bu...
-
Hollinm,
Nice to meet the only and last person in Canada who happens to think that global warming science is a hoax. You don't know how I hope this Prime Mi...
-
Zachary,
It has been my experience that people looking for an excuse somehow always manage to find one. Others do just as well finding a pretext...
-
Zachary,
Yes, one of us is!
-
If you aren't already, you would make a fine strategist. You have a very impressive logical mind.
-
Hollinm,
That was supposed to be a tennis analogy. Oops, as I turn shades of red!
-
Hollinm,
I have to disagree. In the final analysis, it is rather immaterial what both parties want. What is relevant is what Canadians want -- how far are...
-
Hollinm,
That's the nice thing about a coin toss -- it either goes for you or against you...nothing like a good 50-50 chance. (The budget had better make ...
-
Hollinm,
I will let Jean Chrétien speak for himself. But I do find your last paragraph interesting.
-
Hollinm,
I already knew that as a FORMER Conservative. As a Red Tory, it was either laugh or cry...
-
Hollinm,
On one thing we agree: cap and trade is as dead as those golden door knobs...Obama does not have the political clout needed to get it through Con...
-
Hollinm,
This Prime Minister has never met a risk he didn't like -- or take.
For my part, I always suspected Liberals and our non-partisans would not m...
-
But sometimes Zachary, the explanation just doesn't wash!!
-
Exactly.
-
Zachary,
Sometimes in politics, what is left unsaid is immensely more interesting that what is put on the page...
-
Hollinm,
Too bad they don't give an Oscar for dramatic license. You're the winner hands down...but I have to admit that it did get a laugh out of me. (Nic...
-
Hollinm,
That's always been your trouble. You're much too considerate!
-
Please Zachary, I'm just a simple strategist. I'm saying "uncle" right now!
-
Zachary,
Two things immediately come to mind:
1. Sometimes, albeit rarely, a small one morphs into a big one;
2. On other occasions, the internal dy...
-
Canadian Press-Harris/Decima.
CPC: 32%
LPC: 30%
NDP: 16%
GP: 10%
BQ: 41% in Quebec.
-
Sorry, too much work to search for it. Will try later.
-
Zachary,
Thanks. The PDF link should appear on the Harris/Decima site but probably only tomorrow...
-
Zachary,
Much obliged!
Nanos National Poll - Canadians embrace Olympic peace (2010-02-11)
-
Who Is The New Bridesmaid?
We are living in "the moment" which will be crucial to determining who the next bridesmaid will be in federal politics. Until rec...
-
TerryQ,
Apparently not.
-
Hollinm,
Your reasoning amuses me. Don't you know by now that a driver never makes much headway on a road when the emphasis is constantly placed upon survey...
-
Rough and tumblee,
I'm sorry. Were you sick? Somehow you seem to have managed to miss the fact that a Conservative government has been in power these past f...
-
rsharp2,
Yeah, and with only that, it must mean they are really having an "off" day!
-
Rough and tumblee,
Nice return serve. I'll give you that.
-
Hollinm,
Please turn to your closest dictionary and look up the words "idle speculation"! Enough said.
-
rsharp2,
And all this time, I thought it was because anyone else at the helm would quickly run the good ship Conservative aground.
-
Hollinm,
He or she who prematurely stirs the pot ends up in it. A leadership crown inevitably passes in its own time. Stephen and Michael finally have somet...
-
Rough and tumblee,
You sure seem to be on a roll today. (Just like this Prime Minister. His speech today was excellent -- and no, I'm not "softening".)
-
JasonC,
We may not yet have a platform which is a net minus. However, that is far outweighed by this government's conduct. Incredibly, they really ARE goi...
-
Bernie,
Exceedingly well said.
-
Prediction Time: Another Harper U-Turn Is Coming.
Because I'm one hell of a nice guy, I thought I would let you all in on what I'm expecting from this Conse...
-
Neveratory,
Did you say charm offensive? From Harper? You can't be serious!
-
rsharp2,
This Prime Minister is dropping because he has finally worn out his welcome. Canadians' patience is at an end and they are no longer willing to giv...
-
Tom,
Your post is quite an eye opener. Thanks for sharing it with us.
-
Neveratory,
As the greatest Liberal fighter of our generation, you of all people will not make the mistake of underestimating our opponent. If we get carele...
-
Bernie,
Thanks! I could be wrong but it's my contention that from a narrow strategic perspective that this Prime Minister played Prorogation I and II brilli...
-
Rough and tumblee,
Yes indeed, the game is on! And personally, I'm looking forward to every glorious moment of it. It starts with accountability -- the form...
-
Hollinm,
You seem to be developing quite an edge...must be that poll that still has you rather rattled. Imagine what the next one will do. Steady man, steady!
-
Hollinm,
I'll bet. Why don't you tell us how this government is going to get its polling mojo back. Looks to me like the horse might already be out of the b...
-
Neveratory,
This is about as candid as it gets: they're through -- done as dinner -- unless collectively, the opposition commits the cardinal sin of punting...
-
Hollinm,
Just to set the record straight without going back to my ancient history. If my memory is correct, I thought Dion might win before the writ was dro...
-
Hollinm,
Strange coincidence that you've asked. I'm writing a post on my version of idle speculation as we exchange views.
-
Why Is The NDP Dropping?
You have to wonder whether a sea-change is in the offing when a party's numbers (Environics) start to head south in the troubling d...
-
Hollinm,
If Garth has "no credibility", does it not follow that whatever he writes should not have much effect on public opinion? In that case, what possibl...
-
Tomorrow Is Valentine's Day.
It would be nice if cyber attacks at least took a holiday on the Day Of Love. That's my trouble...always an idealist! But I can...
-
Perfect timing to sign off and dig into Chantal Hébert's "French Kiss". See you, night all.
-
Hollinm,
That is the great thing about our wonderful democracy. We have a free speech right and we use it! Most people on this board respect that, even when...
-
Rough and tumblee,
Do you remember Nixon's "Silent Majority". Nixon deliberately tried to twist it and say they were all with him and backed his initiatives...
-
Rough and tumblee,
Come on. You've been around long enough and know a few things about clever repartee to realize that BOTH SIDES will do precisely that on ...
-
Cyber Attacks.
I want to make this point crystal clear, to quote Nixon:
I'm against aggressive, over-the-top verbal assaults and have argued in the past th...
-
Hollinm,
We may now have our political differences: to put it in Conservative language, remember Harper's jump to Reform and Camp's jump from the Liberals t...
-
And to those companies in Toronto and Montreal who have been kind enough to send me trojan horses in the past, as a means of intimidation, please stick it wh...
-
Neveratory,
Thanks. I'm much more careful with e-mail attachments now (even from so-called reputable firms), much to some people's frustration.
-
Rough and tumblee,
Please read my post again. I did not say WILL. I said IF.
-
Rough and tumblee,
If your comment is directed at me, the answer is no. My little computer gifts which have been received have absolutely nothing to do with...
-
Rough and tumblee,
Thanks. In my case, the trojan horses came via e-mail attachments. They were meant to shut me up and they were a courtesy of individual c...
-
Donald Bruce Smith,
I don't like it any better when my side does it. Both the government and opposition sides have done it in the past. For the most part, I...
-
rough and tumblee,
For my part, it's like water on a duck's back. We might as well move on.
-
Donald Bruce Smith,
I'm not saying this is a given by any stretch of the imagination but let us suppose for a moment that 13% is not the basement for the ...
Tories and Grits Gripped in a Tie (Completed February 4th 2010) (2010-02-08)
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Hollinm,
"Campaigns are a funny thing and what we may think is the issue today will not even be mentioned in a campaign."
When we get into an election, Lib...
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Hollinm,
You know what they say about counting your chickens! Are you suggesting that you really have control? Are you telling us that you have the minor pa...
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Hollinm,
Now that's quite an admission: that this government apparently will actually let us get to Montreal. No funny business on either the Throne Speech,...
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Hollinm,
Fair enough.
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Stop equalization,
You know how reasonable we are. We'll read it and then take a decision. That's what makes us a progressive party. Unlike some people, we ...
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4Logie,
The "other" and original Captain Smith said just about the same thing: look we are only a thousand yards from that nice iceberg.
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Stop equalization,
Whatever happened to objective and balanced federal governments??? When are they finally going to distribute those "We Hate The Press Gal...
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Morpher,
I guess someone screwed up and ran out of black extra-wide felt markers...but it wasn't all bad: at least some guy got his exercise in for the day...
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Stop equalization,
Haven't you forgotten something? If memory serves, it was called Election 2004. Was it good for you? Point made, don't you agree?
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Stop equalization,
Let me help: Liberal Prorogation With Majority Mandate From Voters--Good
Conservative Prorogation With Minority Manda...
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Tom,
From nobodies to sheep in 35 years...some might call that actual progress!
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Hi Tom,
We're into the new normal. It's irreversible. Collegial cabinets are long gone, caucus is nothing more than a pathetic rubber stamp (except on the r...
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Tom,
I could be wrong but I suspect both the Liberals and the NDP are still keen on both, especially the second but what's the point as long as this governm...
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Stop equalization,
I hope you don't have any money riding on that!
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Nope, you still don't. It's legal and legitimate in parliamentary terms but it is in no way legitimate in political terms with a government having been elect...
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Stop equalization: are you a CLASSIC Star Trek television series fan?
If so, this is for you:
Quotation from Mr. Spock -
"No one can guarantee the actions...
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Tom,
It's pointless on the government side. Remember that the wolf signs their nomination papers before an election, or more importantly, a RE-ELECTION...it...
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Hollinm,
"Funny I have never seen Harper having people around him to tell him what to say."
That's because they're spread out too thin, telling everyone el...
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Blackacadian,
I expect Max is in for a long stay in the doghouse. However, one thing could change that: if their fortunes sink so low in Ontario that Queb...
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Only Jack Knows For Sure.
Jack said at a press conference that he's feeling pretty good. Glad to hear it. Hopefully, his treatment will go fine, without a...
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Hollinm,
Let me say up front that I have absolutely no expertise in these matters. One thing does strike me -- were I on the receiving end for a shared co...
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rsharp2,
The Gods know but they aren't telling.
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Hollinm,
I agree there is no groundswell for national daycare. But there comes a time when you have to bite the bullet. Now, if taxpayers revolt over the ...
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Hollinm,
My point is that this Prime Minister does not have enough confidence in his OWN ministers to let them think for themselves...the more competent a...
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Hollinm,
A good strategist always cultivates his sources in both his former and present party! Let's leave it at that.
And yes, I did indeed go overboa...
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Just Think Of The Game Show!
Next time bureaucrats get into a little spot of trouble regarding Access to Information requests thanks to pesky ministerial ...
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Hollinm,
Neither. I'm just an ordinary Joe who happens to know where to go and whom to speak with when I want to find out something I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G!...
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Hollinm,
Not in a million years! My CPC senators are both so loyal he could quite literally put his life in their hands. Those two guys wouldn't leak eve...
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Rough and tumblee,
Why don't you at least be frank -- what you say is true of past Liberal governments but also of the latest incarnation of this government...
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Rough and tumblee,
I presume this means that I met your father in the past. Please tell him right back at him!
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Rough and tumblee,
If we fight the good fight that is what is truly important in the end...not really whether we win or lose. For my part, I try to be gra...
Nanos Leadership Index and Ballot (2009-12-30)
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What's Wrong With This Government?
Just caught my two favourite pundits on the tube this morning. Now that's better. In fact, one hell of a lot less frostie...
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Non-Aligned in Toronto,
One can't make that argument in Michael's case. Reagan had a serious medical condition, which I suspect, was already diagnosed durin...
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That Conservative New Year's Resolution.
I hope that the linguists are being paid overtime -- talk about previously pent up demand from the royal blue side ...
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Taking The War To The Conservatives.
Prorogation II has killed the well-worn myth of parties working together for the common good. In reality, that was neve...
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Non-aligned in Toronto,
It takes TWO to form a deliberate willingness to go down that road...I've warned in the past that that type of tactic is at best, co...
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Brusmit,
Would you agree with me on the following? Chrétien has the ability to go for the jugular but with humour. To my mind, it all started with Diefenbak...
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Brusmit,
I took figurative writing to a new height with my podium statement. I should have been a lot cleaner so readers wouldn't conclude that I expected a...
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Brusmit,
My views are not represented in any way, shape or form in the OLO. To be perfectly frank, the more that inaction reigns, the more an impression of ...
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Tom,
You will fall off your chair when you read this!
My comments will be completely contrary to previously expressed positions on leadership. I'm writing,...
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Rough and tumblee,
Nice yarn. If anyone thinks Liberals will roll over and play dead, expect one mighty unpleasant revelation to be revealed to Conservative...
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Rough and tumble,
I will take him or her on, if or as necessary.
Happy New Year! If we play our cards right, it could be one hell of a Liberal year.
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Brusmit,
Happy New Year!
Thanks. I will head over to the Globe and Mail now. You have made it quite irresistible by what you've posted from the article.
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Brusmit,
What's happening? Surely, you're not going soft because of the holidays! I find your latest comments quite balanced vis-à-vis we Liberals.
Perhaps...
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Brusmit,
I honestly don't know. The deck was so stacked against Martin by 2006: sponsorship, Options-Canada, RCMP inquiry into the conduct of the finance mi...
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Brusmit,
Thanks. The more we think alike, the more Liberals are likely to put distance between themselves and yours truly...but hey, you've got to call 'em ...
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Rough and tumblee,
Robust action is a many splendid thing. Just ask this Prime Minister. Options are available. Our task is to pick them -- especially in Ma...
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Rough and tumblee,
Call me full of myself -- but it's been our collective experience that the more Conservatives are dead set against something -- the more ...
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Rough and tumblee,
Does it not logically flow that if Conservative public policy is now or has always been excellent, that those same Canadians would have p...
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Rough and tumblee,
A course of action will always inevitably trump a course of inaction...
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Consertative Supporter,
I've just logged in to my Twitter account. It took about twenty seconds. Are you sure that your log-name or e-mail and password are ...
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Rough and tumblee,
Agreed, and someone will. In our present political reality, Michael knows he has one shot and not two (as is traditionally afforded Liber...
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Rough and tumblee,
Under the new normal, the new unofficial but widely understood political reality, Michael, or any other leader (hypothetically speaking),...
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Rough and tumblee,
Thank you. Same to you. Our model is this Prime Minister. The man has come a long way: remember when they were not exactly wild about Har...
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Tom,
Nice to see that we are on the same wavelength on prorogation. I expect it to come back and haunt this government.
I suspect that as soon as the Prime...
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Consertative Supporter,
I'm a bit of an odd duck on all of this: I never use my Twitter page and my damned Facebook page has been blank since I became a mem...
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Brusmit,
I'm a very crass person Brusmit who has not been enlightened enough today to survey any of the morning papers. So preoccupied with potentially accu...
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Brusmit,
I don't happen to believe in Alice in Wonderland, The Tooth Fairy or The Easter Bunny...for any politician to suggest that we can reach balance by ...
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Brusmit,
In French we say la cerise sur le sundae (and the kicker -- the cherry on the sundae) is the following: imagine the size of the pending political t...
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Consertative Supporter,
Interesting read. I know nothing about the comportment of Olympic athletes. Two things strike me: each athlete has to do the best he...
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Tom,
House and Senate reform to my mind is simple as can be. I could probably accomplish it in two days of meetings. Call me full of it, but that's as far a...
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Brusmit,
Perhaps we should cast our eyes toward Ottawa next. I suspect that we may be able to find incidences of individual double-dipping there...
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There Goes That Carefree Spring...
That's one positive thing you can say about the Harper PMO. It's nothing if not a hub of frenzied activity. Can you just ...
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Tom,
I'm not a constitutional lawyer but with respect, I doubt that can be done without the seven provinces on board. Am I wrong?
As for Liberal alternativ...
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Well, Excuse Me!
This just in from 660 News:
Psychic says Tories set for majority
Kelly Turner Jan 02, 2010 12:10:09 PM
Scandal, betrayal and a security b...
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Tom,
Even if it could pass thanks to the new Senators, surely the three opposition parties will line up in the House to prevent that. I suspect the NDP, lon...
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Rough and tumble,
Nice one. But the question at hand is whether he also will be subject to major and perhaps unanticipated renovations...
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Brusmit,
Again we are at a respectful impasse. If you guys poison-pill, it will take turning water into wine to pin it on the Liberals, or any other opposit...
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Brusmit,
I'm not so sure. The creaming would only be possible in Western Canada. It would have little to no effect in seat-rich Ontario, where most NDP seat...
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Midnight Has Come And Gone.
And still no PMO Press Release on Senate appointments.
They're slipping! Are they waiting until we are all comatose???
Good Ni...
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Brusmit,
Hopefully, other posters will add to our debate.
P.S. You strike me as being just as in touch as I am.
Nighty, night.
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Brusmit,
Truthfully, no. But I still remember how to work a back channel -- and that does provide occasional success.
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Tom,
Even Liberals know that reform must come to the Upper Chamber. IMHO, once any government has a majority, it will have to be tackled. If it takes 10-25 ...
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Brusmit,
My comments were based on contemporary reality. But if Tom's projections re: the time frame on Senate reform are correct, all that I previously sai...
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Joan,
No wonder Canadians don't want an election. I guess they'd rather not chance another campaign while this government is on a "roll"...
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Africon,
Happy New Year! Forgive me but I'm anally retentive this morning: actually it must have been at Laurier House.
If memory serves correctly, the...
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Rough and tumble,
Happy New Year! Thank you. I hope we'll soon be very busy!
But most Liberals believe my thinking is full of it.
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Joan,
Happy New Year! May 2010 be the year of change.
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Rough and tumble,
I knew Senator Léopold Langlois. Thank God I'm so young otherwise it would really date me! Anyway, as I recall mandatory retirement at 7...
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Consertative Supporter,
Will get back to you on that ASAP.
Signed, Formerly from the side of the party you don't like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Consertative Supporter,
I was a Progressive Conservative and Conservative and left the party in December 2008 to join the Liberals.
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Tom,
Agreed. Happy New Year!
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Consertative Supporter,
I'm sticking with Michael. Remember how Chrétien and Harper couldn't give water away to a person dying of thirst...things have a f...
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Rough and tumble,
This Prime Minister is entering dangerous waters if he proceeds in the same fashion Mulroney did to get the Free Trade Agreement through...
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Rough and tumblee,
The opposition can only be pushed so far: prorogation twice and if this Prime Minister goes for a Mulroney -- that may be the straw tha...
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Rough and tumblee,
I take your point that Chrétien prorogued twice.
As for the rest, both of us will see, won't we.
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Consertative Supporter,
Here we go: (I'm assuming that you had no trouble creating your Twitter account.) Click on Sign In and (type e-mail; and password ...
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The Thorn For Harper In The Wildrose.
Well, Danielle Smith, you seem to be off to a flying start. Next you'll be getting official party status -- after al...
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Brusmit,
Never say never! Stephen Harper is living proof of that. We all thought (those of us in the Belinda camp) he would never make it and become Prim...
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The Disinformation Olympics.
Geez, who would have thought that little old Canada would in the space of a few weeks get to enjoy TWO Olympic events. One will...
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Brusmit,
Personally, I'll believe it when they source it, not before. But they won't have the guts to do that.
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LHTW,
As someone who remains convinced that this Prime Minister will poison-pill the budget, the odds are pretty likely -- unless the Conservatives start ...
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LHTW,
You mean like Conservative cabinet ministers, Stockwell excepted!
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Brusmit,
Does the name of some guy called Obama mean anything to you? He just spent the better part of a month vacationing in Hawaii and we didn't hear yo...
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Rough and tumble,
Nice to see you haven't mellowed over the holidays!
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LHTW,
Our soldiers will support the incumbent government. You know that very well. It all goes back to Borden in the First World War.
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Brusmit,
Quite obviously with the delay in appointing the five senators, that means that this Prime Minister is planning on using the "Mulroney" clause to...
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Brusmit,
It usually takes me a while but I do try! Thanks.
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Can You Spell G-A-M-E- C-H-A-N-G-E-R?
At least one pundit predicted that Prorogation II would be a game-changer and I agree with that assessment.
Check...
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Brusmit,
Logical. No doubt about it, if the PM goes it's because projections are at bare minimum for a Conservative win. Otherwise, what would be the poin...
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Brusmit,
As a Liberal free-agent there is nothing to stop me so OK.
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Brusmit,
Here is my dispassionate "off-the-cuff" analysis:
The Conservative war room is correct in following these metrics and sub-sets. Liberals shoul...
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Brusmit,
Have a nice evening. I won't...laundry.
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Brusmit,
I think you hit the target on HST in BC.
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Brusmit,
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't Michael's children from his first marriage residents in the United Kingdom? That was my impression but I don't...
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Brusmit,
As a married man, you know how it goes: when a good women isn't cracking the whip...things slide and it did!
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Brusmit,
Rather pressed for time this morning but again my sense of it is that you are correct: HST bleeding could very well account for it, rather dramat...
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Rough and tumble,
I'm tired. Too much getting on the pot without shitting. Time for me to take a long rest...
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Rough and tumble,
Yes, that too! Gone home, back to my own blog where I can be myself, come what may.
I'm not made of as strong stuff as you are. I though...
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Brusmit,
Thank you. You're welcome to visit if you are so inclined.
http://politicalcivildiscourse.blogspot.com/
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Hi Jack,
Happy New Year! Long time no see. I'm spending my time over at my blog with a lot less to say than was previously the case. As you can see, I'm sti...
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Consertative Supporter,
It's Donolo's shop. He can run it as he sees fit. Last time we were in the room together, he expressed his view that this is not the...
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Tom,
Amen, brother...
-
Jack,
As a Conservative, you won't subscribe to the following (at least I think you won't) but here it goes: as Liberals, it's not only our job but our OBLI...
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Brusmit,
Reminds me of the iron law of diminishing political returns for this government!
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Jack,
They say that the smug quiet self-satisfaction of saying after the fact "I told you so.", is a pleasant experience. Quite frankly, it's one I would pr...
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Brusmit,
Prorogation may indeed turn out to be the mouse that roared but one thing is certain: it has killed the previous open-mind many Canadians had with ...
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Rumpole,
You won't be surprised to find out that I did not attend an anti-prorogation rally. Yes, I signed the petition but don't like to waste my time pret...
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Brusmit,
That should just about finish me in Ottawa. But enough is enough. Time to call a spade a spade...
-
Brusmit,
Fair enough. Signing off now. Nice talking to you but time to hang it up when it has just become simply going through the motions.
Have got bette...
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Economic Action Scam,
Most people in Ottawa never really learn. Once again, it's a Conservative round. Foolish to the extreme but an overreach is an overr...
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Brusmit,
There are always innovative ways for an incumbent government to handle issues such as Colvin. This latest move, clumsy though it may be, does not...
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Jack,
You have plenty of breathing room left, even under Harper. The voters in their infinite wisdom??...have basically decided that Jack and Michael will...
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CanadianPatriot,
Again, the same pattern continues: we Liberals rise but level off rather than continue PAST the Conservatives. Isn't that the POINT of th...
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Neveratory,
Let's get something clear, none of us want us to "peak" now. What I think is reasonable is for our trajectory to be continually ascending incr...
-
Jack,
With respect, you are stuck with this Prime Minister until he loses. And right now, unless the OLO does a big 180, Harper's odds of re-election with...
-
Brusmit,
Harper just doesn't get it. Each time his government takes another shot at Colvin, it's happy days are here again for the opposition parties. Mi...
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NotoLibtoads,
By all means, go Harper go! Send in old Stock to slash and burn over at Treasury Board. Make the place look like it just went through World ...
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I'm Not For Turning.
This Prime Minister believes in playing hard ball. I admire that. That's why he has 51 senators! But I also think that we have to take ...
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Neveratory,
As an aside, at least you didn't choose the moniker Neveraredtory!
I hope Michael is receptive to your overtures. Good Luck.
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Brusmit,
Instead of playing cat and mouse (or is it mouse and cat?) with your opposite number, how about addressing my points. You might find that more inte...
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Brusmit,
I'm in but not as in as before...when something of interest pops up, I'll have a few words to say. As for replies, I hope it does not offend you ...
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Neveratory,
Some choose to use multiple identities. That's not my bag. However, my attitude is, whatever floats your boat. I suspect that in the long run,...
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Brusmit,
Likewise.
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The Verdict Is In: We're Considered Nothing More Than "IDIOTS"!
Comforting thought -- play us all for fools and hope we aren't smart enough to see through t...
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Neveratory,
If you're in the mood, stayed tuned. I feel another one coming over me!
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And The Winner Of The Captain Smith Award Is...Prime Minister Stephen Harper!
Nice going, Ottawa...the PM and Peter Van Loan are slated to make the big anno...
-
Jack,
It really boggles the mind to see this Prime Minister presiding over one recent political and public relations disaster after another...whether you ...
-
Talk about Chutzpah!
Nice to see the Harper government on the defensive over the Bye Bye American accord. Up until recently, it was a "[Stephen], we didn't ...
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JasonC,
This strikes me as a tired government going about doing its "best" work just before it potentially falls into the actual throes of political death...
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JasonC,
I will be pulling for
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